
Class JT^^-t- 

-Fs3 



Book 



Copyright N°_ 



COPYRIGHT DEPOSIT. 





Emergency HELPS /^r 
Housekeepers and Others 




Compiled by 

Mrs. Geo. W. Fleming 

LYNCHBURG, VA. 










1906 

J. p. Bell Co., Inc., Printers 

Lynchburg, Va. 




1 



i LIBRARY of CONGRESS 
1 Two Copres Received 
I Die 3 5906 

j^ Copyright Entry , 
j cuss A XXc, No. 

^^7/7 3 

COPY B. 



Copyright 1906 by 
Mrs. Geo, W. Fleming 



.< 




HERE are better 
ways of doing 
things 
If people did but 
Know ; 
And so, 'tis "Little Helps" 

ive need 
As through this w^orld we go. 

*Some things w^e find out 

for ourselves. 
And some we must be told ; 
And oftentimes new \sra.ys 

we find 
Are better than the old.** 




INDEX 

Antidotes Fok Poisons 

C lasse PAGE 

Acids ^ 

Arsenic 8 

Cocaine - ^8 

Iodine .. 28 

Mercurial 28 

Opium 28 

Phosphorus 28 

Strychnine 28 

Zinc salts 28 

Candy Making 

Boiling 198-200 

Colorings for candy .., 200 

Coloring liquids, to make 201 

General directions for 197 

Glucose 198 

Materials 197 

Syrup kept in Stock.... , ., 200 

Syrup, to prepare 200 

Cleaning Hints 

Black silk, to clean 119 

Candle drippings, to remove 121 

Felt hats, to clean 121 

Gasoline, to clean with 120 

Grease remover 121 

Grease spots from clothing, to clean 119 

Kid gloves, to clean 122 

Lace, to clean 121 

Light cloth, to clean 123 

Machine oil, to remove 121 

Oil spots, to clean 124 

Patent leather, to clean 124 

Panama hats, to clean 124 

Pillows, to clean 124 

Spot on silk, to clean 119, 120 

Spots on clothes, to clean 120 

Straw hat, to clean 119 

To freshen flowers on yoilr hat 122 

Tortoise shell combs 123 



Q INDEX 

FA6B 

Undressed kid, to clean 120 

Wagon grease, to remove 121 

White silk lace, to clean 123 

White feathers, to clean 122 

CooKEKY Notes 

A hint to jelly makers 59 

A substitute 31 

Apples, canning 59 

Applesauce 50 

Beef, to test 38 

Boiling water 51 

Bread crumbs , 34 

Bread, to test 33 

Bread, to freshen 33 

Broiling steak 58 

Broiled meats 51 

Broiling, over coals 51 

Butter or lard, mixing 34 

Cake, effects of water on 32 

Cake, to keep moist 37 

Cakes, griddle , 53 

Cake, effect of temperature on , 48 

Cake burning, prevented 38 

Cakes and puddings 39 

Can tops, to loosen 60 

Canning and preserving '. 60 

Cheese, to keep moist 35 

Cider, canning 61 

Cocoa, quick 42 

Corn meal and flour , 54 

Coffee making 35 

Cooked meats, to make tender 51 

Cooking stew 45 

Cooking a cereal 45 

Cream, whipping 39 

Cream, when freezing ,.... 58 

Cream in coffee 52 

Cream, to keep ... 50 

Cream, whipped 49 

Croquettes 48 

Custard hints 58 

Danger in the teapot 46 

Defective fruit cans , 60 

Dried fruits, the care of 49 

Eggs, breaking 36 

Eggs, whites 36 

Egg, to use yolk 31 

Egg yolks, to keep 31 



INDEX 



8, testing 51 

Eggs, beating 53 

Eggs, to beat whites 47 

Experience a teacher 52 

Fish scales, to remove 37 

Fish, to put away 35 

Fish, good flavor 34 

Fish, baking 48 

Fishy taste, to take away , 43 

Flavorings 38 

Flavoring extracts 37, 42 

Food, to keep warm 37 

Fowls, to make tender 36 

Fruit jelly, to make "jell" 35 

Fruit and vegetables, tinned 59 

Gelatine, avoid odors 33 

Gravy making 37 

Green vegetables, to keep fresh 44 

Horseradish 31 

Ham, devilled 50 

Ham, boiling 33 

Ham, cooking 40 

Hatpins, etc., "in cookery" 45 

Icecream, something about 47 

Irish potatoes, to make light , 35 

Jelly, when making 43 

Kitchen odors 47 

Lamb chops 58 

Light bread, a delicate crus 32 

Lemons 40 

Lemonade, convenient 44 

Lemon for jelly 53 

Marmalade or jam, to stir 38 

Mayonnaise, making 49 

Mayonnaise, to arrest curdling 31 

Meat for cooking 34 

Meringue on pies .♦. 38 

Milk, scalded 36 

Milk, to boil 40 

Mold on olives 46 

Molasses, to clarify 46 

Nature's way 41 

New can tops 60 

New rubbers qO 

Odors, to prevent..... 38 

Olive oil, for frying 33 

Onion juice, to obtain 48 

Onions, after peeling 39 

Oysters, fried 48 



8 INDEX 

PAGE 

Oysters, fresh 39 

Pastry, baking. 57 

Pancake pointer 39 

Parsley, to keep 60 

Peas and beans 49 

Pepper, white 45 

Pecans, to remove meats 44 

Pies, fruit 58 

Piecrust 39 

Pop corn, an idea 32 

Potatoes, to cream 44 

Potatoes, baked 43 

Potato hints 40 

Potatoes, another way to cook 44 

Potatoes, to cook (old) 58 

Preserves, prevent molding. 51 

Proportions in cookery. 54 

Pudding, to steam 53 

Eaisins, chopping 42 

Ehubarb, to cook 38 

Kice ....„ ; 31, 36 

Salt, too much 34 

Salt, in cooking 36 

Salt, when not to use 33 

Sauces, to skim 34 

Seasonings, suggestive 50 

Seeds from cranberries, to remove 35 

Scallops 49 

Soda, when to use , 36 

Soda batters, test > 34 

Soda and baking powder 53 

Something to know 40 

Soup, to clarify....... 51 

Soup, secret 53 

Soups and gravies, to thicken 32 

Spices, how to use 33 

Sugar, to prevent graining..... 39 

Sweet potatoes, baking 59 

Syrup cans 60 

Tea, to prevent stains 39 

Tea cakes, prevent burning 54 

The old way and the new 41 

Time table, boiling meats 55 

Time table, boiling vegetables 56 

Timetable, boiling fish 55 

Time table, baking meats 56, 57 

Timetable, baking fish 57 

Timetable, baking bread and cakes 57 

To hurry the pot 36 



INDEX 9 

PAGE 

To keep fat from sputtering 32 

To cook a small roast 54 

To boil cabbage 47 

To thicken custards, etc 52 

To remove grease from broth 40 

Turnips, to cook 45 

Vegetables, cooking 49 

Vegetables, to preserve color 51 

Vegetables, in soup stock 54 

Vegetables, green 35 

Vinegar, to clarify 46 

Weights and measures 52 

When cream is thin 57 

Gas and Oil Stoves 

Accumulation of gas 153 

Another trouble 153 

Buying 154 

Baking cake 155 

Cooking 154 

Cooks differ 154 

Drums and strainer , 156 

For convenience... 155 

Gas range, to set 153 

Gas stoves 153 

If flame decreases 156 

If oil raises 157 

Lighting a burner 154 

Lighting rings 157 

Repairs , 156 

Smoking burners 156 

Suggestion ...,, , 156 

To set an oil stove , 155 

To clean pipe 157 

Well kept stove 154 

Health Hints 

Apples for health 193 

Bathing , 192 

Boys smoking ; 190 

Cheerfulness 193 

Children and pet cats 189 

Coffee 191 

Crossing the limbs 189 

Deep breathing. , 191 

Dotted veils 192 

Eruptions on the skin 190 

Flesh producer . 189 



10 roEX 

PAGE 

Headache. 194 

Infants — feeding 192 

Nervous women ., 192 

Oranges for health 193 

Pineapples 193 

Sound sleep and cold water 190 

Sleep for growing children... 191 

Sunshine 192 

Summer heat 190 

House Cleaning Notes 

A fine carpet cleaner 113 

Ammonia 99 

A good idea for closets 101 

A greasy sink 102 

Bars of grate, to polish 113 

Bathtubs 102, 103 

Bath room hooks , 112 

Bathtubs, to cleanse ,,., 102 

Beds, to clean 101 

Brass, to clean 99, 103, 108 

Brass articles, to prevent tarnish 106 

Bronze ornaments 104 

Broom bag 101 

Cane chairs, to restore 112 

Carpets, to freshen , Ill 

Carpets 113 

Carpett and rugs 114 

Care of cellar and furnace 107 

Cellar, to dry out 115 

Chandeliers, to clean 114 

Chandelier globes, to clean 100 

Combs andbrnshrs 110 

Dust, to get rid of 101 

Dust on wardrobe .. 112 

Floors covered with matting 115 

Floors, good finish for 115 

Fly specks, to remove 113 

Finger marks on mirrors 110 

Furniture, to clean 109 

Furniture, to polish 114 

Glassware ,. 102 

Grates, to clean 100 

Gilt frames, to brighten 101 

Isinglass, to clean • 102 

Ink stains on furniture 105 

Ivory handle knives 110 

Kitchen windows 99 



INDEX 



11 



PAGE 

Kerosene oil 99 

Light carpets, to clean 113 

Linoleum, to clean 105, 106 

Linoleum, to wash 109 

Mantel tiles , 113 

Marks on polished tables 99 

Mahogany, to clean 108 

Marble, stains on 105, 107 

Mirrors 114 

Mirror frames, to cleanse Ill 

Mirrors, to clean 100 

Moths in carpets 115 

Nickel plate, care of 103 

Nickel plate plumbing, to cleanse 104 

Nickel plate, to clean 103 

New agate ware. 99 

New floor and whisk broom, to preserve 115 

Oiling a clock , 104 

Oil marks on wall paper 105 

Oilcloth 109 

Oil cloth, to renew 101 

Plaster statues, to clean 107 

Piano, to clean 110 

Polished fl^oors, to protect 114 

Rust on steel 108 

Silver, to clean 100 

Soot, to remove 102 

Soda, a cleanser 103 

Stained floors, to wipe , 105 

Sticky fly paper, to remove 107 

Sewing machine, to clean 110 

Varnished doors, &c., to clean Ill 

Wall paper, to clean 106 

White paint 109 

Windows, to wash „ 112 

Window panes, to remove paint from 112 

Wicker chairs, to clean 109 

Window washing 106 

Windows, to polish 104 

Window panes, to brighten 104 

Woodwork, to clean 107, 112 

Kitchen Helps 

After a few years' use 73 

A few "don'ts" 76 

Black lead dust 74 

Bottles, to clean 72 

Burnt meat, from vessels to remove 67 

Chimney cleaner 72 



12 INDEX 



Cherry pits, to remove 73 

Cook stove, to keep clean 71 

Cracks in stove, to mend 66 

Eggs, to keep fresh 71 

Eggs, to test ,. 77 

Fishy odor 76 

FJame, to extinguish 67 

Food burning on stove 67 

Frying pan, to clean 69 

Frying pan, cleaning 69 

Glassware, to harden 70 

Good suggestion 70 

Grease on the stove 72 

Grease on floor , 74 

Glass jars for vinegar 74 

Griddles, soapstone 67 

Hot grease ,.. 67 

Hot fire, remedy for • 68 

Hot bread and cake, to cut , 74 

Kettle covers 72 

Kettles, to keep clean.... 71 

Kitchen sink, over the 75 

Kitchen sink, to unstop 75 

Kitchen, convenience for 75 

Kitchen knives 75 

Kitchen floor, don't oil 74 

Kitchen cloths, to purify 71 

Kitchen fire 69 

Kitchen floor , 70 

Kitchen rack 70 

Kitchen odors, to prevent 67 

Kitchen lamps 65 

Kitchen table, to keep clean , 65 

New tin, to prevent rusting 71 

Odor of onions..... 73 

Odors, to destroy 77 

Paper bags, the care of 73 

Paint, in the kitchen 74 

Eusty screw, to remove 69 

Salt, a cleanser , 68 

Salt, to keep dry 67 

Salt cellars, to fill 65 

Sauce pans, to clean 65 

Sink brushes 66 

Soap, for the kitchen 66 

Soda in the kitchen 66 

Soot, to burn 68 

Spots on stoves 68 

Steel, to prevent rusting 70 



INDEX 13 



Stove polish hint 73 

Stove poli h, to improve 69 

Stove polish 68 

Stove pipes, to cleanse 66 

Sugar in the tea-pot 65 

Tea-pot, to repair 69 

Tinware, to brighten 75 

To protect dishes 65 

Vegetables, to keep 74 

Walnut and fruit stains, to remove 73 

Laundry Helps 

A caution 84 

An economy 87 

A magical washing method 90 

Black stockings, to wash 91 

Borax soap 82 

Chamois skin, to wash , , 84 

Clothespin apron 87 

Clothespins, enameled 81 

Colored muslin, to wash 94 

Colored table linen, to wash 88 

Colors, to set 81 

Curtains, to launder 86 

Dark calicoes, to wash 94 

Evening shawl, to clean 84 

Flannels 84 

Flannels, to prevent shrinking 90 

Flannels, to wash 88 

Flour sacks, to wash 84 

For ironing day , 88 

Flounces, to launder 92 

Grass stains 90 

Handkerchiefs, to wash 87 

Hard soap 81 

Hints from an observant laundress 89 

Ironing 91 

Iron stand 81 

Ironing sheet for table 82 

Irons, to keep smooth 90 

Laundress' complaint , 93 

Lace, to cleanse 94 

Laundry hints 86, 92 

New blanket", to wash 89 

Old and discolored lace, to wash..... 95 

Paint and wagon grease, to remove 88 

Perspiration, stains 89 

Potatoes as soap 85 

Pongee silk, to wash......... 85 



l^ INDEX 



PAGE 



Prevent fading 83, 86 

Eed table linen, to wash 82 

Scorch 87 

Scorches, to remove 81 

Scorched spots, to remove 92 

Sewing machine oil 88 

Something about quilts 87 

Sprinkled clothes 88 

Starch, gum arable as , 91 

Starch, salt in 92 

Starch, salts in 92 

Starch, alum in 91 

Starching bath towels 87 

Starch polish 83 

Starched garments 89 

Stained hat bands 91 

Table linen, to launder 85 

Tar, to remove 82 

To whiten clothes 93 

To save tired feet when ironing 94 

To make stockings last 90 

Washing fluid 82, 83 

Wax for irons , 91 

Washing powder shaker 81 

White cashmere, to wash 83 

MiSCELLAKIES 

A sprig of parsley 209 

Bed-making made easy 206 

Boxes, useful , 214 

Bric-a-brac, to mend 205 

Bread, cakes or pies 216 

Breaking tumblers, to prevent 211 

Burdock, to exterminate 213 

Carpets, to mend 210 

Candle, to extinguish 208 

Chamois skin.... 209 

Darning with hair 212 

Ferns, to make grow 218 

Fire in chimney, to extinguish 211 

Flour avid sugar bags, to open 212 

Fly paper, "sticky" 212 

Fountain pen, to open 207 

Fuel economy 208 

Gas globes 216 

Glue, to strengthen 211 

Glue 213 

Glue hint 207 



INDEX 15 



Grass, to kill. , 207 

Grease the nail 209 

Ink, mold in 216 

Kerosene or gasoline blaze 206 

Knives and forks 208 

Lamp, filling 214 

Lamp tops, to fasten 215 

Lamp chimneys, care of 212 

Lime in the store-room 208 

Mirrors, to resilver 205 

Moth destroyers - '. 210 

Mucilage, to make. 212 

Muslins, to pack 211 

Odors in clothing, to remove 207 

Oil cloth, to make 211 

Onions, odor of 214 

Paint, to remove 214 

Papering, to stick 205 

Papering, to make paste for 205 

Patent leather shoes, the care of ■: 217 

Pen, a steel 216 

Raw potatoes, a slice 216 

Rubber plant, to make branch „ 217 

Rusty screw 208 

Rubber goods, the care of 213 

Rust on steel knives, to prevent 209 

Sheepskin rugs ., 212 

Sheepskins for mats, to prepare. 217 

Silk unwinding, to prevent 207 

Silver, to prevent tarnishing 208 

Squeaking shoes 215 

Steel from rusting, to prevent , 215 

Stair carpet, to buy , 216 

Stone coating for wood 210 

Stone cement 209 

Tobacco, to keep moist 209 

To remove stoppers in bottles 206 

To remove a tight ring 213 

To stop shoes from squeaking 206 

To make cloth rain-proof 215 

Timely helps 208 

Unused teapot, to keep 207 

Water bottles and cruets 206 

Wall paper, to remove 211 

Walls, to clean 206 

Water cooler 210 

Whalebones, hairpins, etc., to renovate 210 

Winnowings 215 

Wooden bowls, care of 213 



16 INDEX 

Sick Eoom and Medical Advice page 

A taper for sick room 168 

Abstinence 172 

An ounce of preventive 167 

Asthma , 164 

Antidote for strychnine 164 

Bed sores, to prevent 184 

Boils, whiskey 173 

Bottle, babies' 162 

Bleeding from a wound ... 176 

Burns, to cure 178 

Burns 184 

Catarrh...... 166 

Carbolic acid 178 

Chapped hands 176 

Chilblains 164,177, 179 

Children should sleep in the dark 173 

Colic in babies 162 

Cold, or pain in the bones 164 

Colds, cure for 175 

Colic... 182 

Convulsions 163 

Corn cure, tested 175 

Corns, remedy for 176 

Constipation 180, 183 

Croup 163,164 

Earache 185 

Ear, insect in 170 

Eczema 161, 185 

Fever blisters 180 

Foreign substance in the nose 169 

Foreign substance in the eye 165 

Gall stones ! 182 

Good remedy for teething babies 162 

Hay fever 176 

Headache, to relieve 173 

Headache 184 

Heartburn, to relieve 175 

Hives 181 

Hot water bag, to mend 168 

Inflammation 178 

Inflamed eyes, for 179 

Indigestion, lo cure 171 

Insomnia, for 171 

Irritated skin 162 

Irish potatoes for burns 166 

Lemons as remedies 181 

Lemon and coffee 174 

Liniment 165 

Medicinal bath 171 



INDEX 17 

PAGE 

Mustard plasters 165 

Neuralgia, excellent remedy for 176 

Obstructions in the throat 173 

Old-fashioned remedy for colds 168 

Olive oil as a medicine 170 

Piles 182 

Plasters, ginger 182 

Poison, mushroom 184 

Poison ivy 167,168 

Rattlesnake bite, "Texas cure" 180 

Ked flannel in sickness 166 

Kheumatism. 167 

Eheumatism, celery for 169 

Ringworm 161, 179 

Eusty nails, danger of 182 

Bun-a-round, cure for 177 

Sanitary hints 161 

Salt, efficacy of 177 

Scald 180 

Scars 178 

Sick headache 175 

Sick room, to fumigate 178,183 

Sick room, for the 170, 181 

Slight constipation in children 162 

Soft corns 179 

Sore eyes, invaluable remedy for 172 

Sore throat 184 

Sprained arm 167 

Sprains, excellent for 176 

Sprains, remedy for 177 

Speedy cure for corns 165 

Splinters, to extract 169 

Strengthening plasters 165 

Summer complaint 180 

Sudden deafness 174 

Sulphur for the complexion 166 

Toothache remedy 184 

Too much fruit 181 

To keep a room cool 179 

To keep ice water in sick room 161 

To stop a cough 168 

To ventilate a room 161 

Warts 179 

Warts, to make disappear 180 

Water drinking 172 

Watermelon seed, save 174 

When bathing the sick 175 

When choking 174 

White-footed hose 173 



18 INDEX 

Stains, Dyes, Etc. page 

An ink stain, to remove 141 

Blood stains 138 

Cocoa stains, to remove 137 

From a missionary in China 137 

Fruit stains 139 

Grease spots 139 

Grass stains 138, 140 

Hot tea and coffee stains 138 

Ink stains 138, 141, 142 

Iodine 138 

Iodine stains 140 

Iron rust 138 

Mildew 137,139 

Mud stains 141 

Pitch tar, etc 139 

Shabby spots on leather 140 

Soot stains 139 

Stains on marble 137 

Tinting dress goods, etc 141 

Vaseline stains 140 

Varnish and paint 140 

The Toilet 

Air bath for the hair 145 

Blackheads 147-148 

Chaps, to prevent 148 

Dandruff, to cure 149 

Eyebrows, to increase growth 146 

Excessive perspiration, under armpits 148 

Feet, care of 149 

Feet, powder for ; 150 

Finger nails, to whiten 149 

For red hands 149 

Grease, for the hair 146 

Parsley water, for the face 148 

Shampoo, an excellent 145 

Shampoo, egg 145 

Shampooing 146 

Skin, care of 147 

Teeth, care of 149 

Wrinkles, lotion for 149 

Yellow complexion 150 

Vermin and Insect Destkoyers 

A chalk line 132 

Ants 131 

Ants and mice 132 

Bed bugs, for 131 



INDEX * 19 

PAGE 

Bed bugs, unfailing remedy 130 

Bugs on cucumbers 133 

Camphor balls, for roses 131 

Cabbage worms 130 

Cut worms 129 

Green worms on currants., 130 

Insecticide, for roses 131 

Mealy bugs 133 

Mitew in setting hens 133 

Moths 129 

Moths, to exterminate 129 

Moths, turpentine for 130 

Moths, tansy for 131 

Potato bugs 133 

Eats, calomel for 130 

Eats 129 

Eats without poison, to kill 132 

Eoaches, to rid a house 132 

Eoaches, to exterminate 129 

Soot on snaps 133 

Tobacco as an insecticide , 130 

Worms, in soil 132 



ONFS OWN INDEX. 



ONE'S OWN INDEX 21 



22 diri'S OWK IKDE2 



ONE'S OWN INDEX 23 



24 ONE'S OWN INDEX 



ONE'S OWN INDEX 



25 



INTRODUCTION 



In presenting this book to wives, mothers, grown-up 
daughters and would-be housekeepers, I am only giving to 
them something that I have needed and have wished for so 
long myself. 

Its scope is quite large, comprising, as it does, "discoveries," 
"experience," "good ideas" from houskeepers; and those 
who think it worth while to investigate, should try and 
learn for themselves a good way of doing. From time to 
time I have culled and saved such information as seemed, 
from my point of view, to be most expedient and best suited 
to the needs of my own household. 

Of course I cannot lay claim to having "tried" the many 
"good things" that I have in store, and did not start out 
with malice aforethought to appropriate to myself the ideas 
of others, which I have literally done; but now that it is in 
compact form I hope that the good it may do will atone, 
and I shall myself enjoy it as a reference book, with the 
most grateful feeling that so many of my sister co-workers 
are its contributors. 

The way in which I have compiled it accounts for the 
iiTegularity of my book, and I have made provision in its 
"blank" pages for those who wish, and find it possible, to 
be more systematic in its arrangement — ^hoping that it may 
fill its mission and be of great benefit. 



ANTIDOTES FOR POISONS. 



Classes. 

Antidotes for poisons may be divided into two classes: 
Chemical and Physiological. 

The object in the use of chemical antidotes is, by means 
of chemical reaction in the stomach, to convert the poison 
into another compound which is not harmful, or into a com- 
pound which is insoluble in the liquids of the stomach, and 
therefore not absorbed into the system. 

The object in physiological antidotes is to administer other 
substances which have a medicinal effect on the system, con- 
trary to the poison and thereby neutralize its effect. As a 
general rule (not always however), it is well to follow the 
antidote with an emetic. 

The following table gives the antidotes for a few of the 
most common poisons, such as are likely to be found about 
dweUing houses : 

Acids — Muriatic, Nitric, Sulphuric, etc. — Give prepared 
chalk, plaster from the wall, carbonate magnesia or bicar- 
bonate of soda, stirred in water. The chalk is preferable if 
at hand. 

Carl olio Acid. — Olive oil, melted butter. Avoid the use 
of water. 

Oxalic Acid — Chalk or Calcined Magnesia, Alhalies, such 
as Concentrated Lye, etc.— Give oils freely; white of egg 
and milk or cream. 

Lead Compound — Sugar of Lead etc. — Give diluted sul- 
phuric acid, or small dos^ of epsom salts every five or ten 
minutes. 



38 EMERGENCY HEIPS FOB, 

Bichloride Mercury, Corrosive Sublimate. — ^TJse white of 
egg stirred in milk freely, and follow in a little wMle with 
an emetic. 

Opium, Laudanum, etc. — ^Vomit if discovered early and fol- 
low with copious draughts of strong coffee or tea. Keep 
patient in constant motion by walking or striking naked skin 
with wet towels. If heart action and respiration is low and 
labored, stimulate with nitro glycerine. 

Arsenic and its compounds — Fowlers Solution, Rough on 
Bats. — Hydrate iron with magnesia or hydrate iron alone, 
which in the household may be prepared by diluting largely 
tincture of iron, and adding ammonia water, and stirring. The 
resulting precipitate (after pouring off the water) should be 
mixed with water and administered freely. Follow with an 
emetic — warm water with a little mustard stirred in it. 

Cocaine. — Vomit if discovered soon after taken; if not 
discovered soon give tannin or decoction of oak bark. 

Iodine. — Give starch freely stirred in water, later follow 
with olive oil. 

Phosphorus from Matches. — Give 10 to 30 drops spirits 
turpentine stirred in water. Later give charcoal and lime 
water. 

Strychnine. — Give emetic if found out early — tannic acid; 
mixture of iodine and iodide potassium — one grain to five 
grains in water, strong tea or decoction of oak bark. Con- 
trol spasms with chloroform or bromide potassium (60 grain 
doses). 

Zinc Salts. — Usually these salts are emetic, but if no vomit- 
ing occurs, use bicarbonate soda and abundance of white of 
egg stirred in milk. 

This table is reliable, having been contributed by a promi- 
nent druggist. 



HOUSEKEEPERS AND OTHERS 29 



COOKEEY NOTES 



To Keep Egg Yolks. 

In breaking eggs, if tlie yolks are not to be used imme- 
diately, nearly fill a tumbler with cold water, break one 
at a time, dropping the yolk in the water, where it will not 
only remain whole but will keep fresh for several days. 

HOESE Eadish. 

Grind horse radish in a meat chopper instead of grating, 
and almost putting out the eyes. 

To Aeeest Cuedling in Mayonnaise. 

Beat the white of an egg to a stiff froth, adding and beating 
it with the curdled mixture. 

To IJse Yolk op Egg. 

To use the yolk of eggs for garnishing a dish or other- 
wise, drop the yolk into boiling water, continuing to boil until 
done, reserving the white for any other purpose. 

A Substitute. 

Pastry made of rich cream instead of lard is said to be 
more digestible. 

Rice. 

A tablespoonful of lemon juice added to three cups of water 
in which one cup of rice is boiled will make the rice whiter, 
and keep each grain separate. 



32 EMERGENCY HELPS FOR 

To Keep Fat from Sputteeing. 

Wlien frying eggs, to avoid the sputtering of fat, sprinkle 
the least bit of flour in the lard before using. 

To Give a Delicate Ckust to Light Bread. 

Before putting in the oven sprinkle lightly or brush over 
with a little water, and your bread will have a more delicate 
crust. 

To Thicken Soups and Gravies. 

Never thicken soups and gravies with flour and water. 
The reason is obvious — flour and water mixed and poured 
into a hot liquid give "starch" as a result. Mix flour with 
butter or any other dripping, then put into the hot mixture 
and it will be quickly dissolved. 

An Idea about Pop-Corn. 

It is generally believed that the more quickly it is cooked 
the better. The following is more scientific. After putting 
it into the popper, pour cold water over it to thoroughly wet 
it, popping a small quantity at a time. If the fire is quite 
hot, shake it on the top of the stove awhile, then take off 
the stove lids and gradually subject it to stronger heat. 
Watch the clock, and if it pops before four minutes have 
expired hold it further from the fire; but when it has been 
heating fully four minutes expose to the strongest heat, shak- 
ing vigorously. Almost every grain will appear to pop at once, 
and little or no shell is found about it, as the corn being 
moistened and heated, the opening of the grain is complete 
when it pops. 

Effect of "Water on Cake Mixture. 
If cold water is mixed with sponge cake the batter will 
be yellow; if boiling, it will be white. 



HOUSEKEEPERS AND OTHERS 33 

Boiling Ham. 

Add a cupful of sugar to the water in which, a large ham 
i«. boiled, of course less to a small one. The flavor will be 
improved. 

To Freshen Stale Bebad. 

Wrap in a towel and steam thoroughly. 
How TO Use Spices. 

Never use ground spices in pickles unless tied up in muslin, 
as they will darken the pickles in spots. 

When Not to Use Salt. 

Boiled fish, like beef steak, should not be salted until 
nearly cooked. Salt hardens the fibre and draws out the 
juices. Salt toughens vegetables, therefore should be thrown 
in when they have nearly finished cooking. 

To Avoid the Odor of Gelatine. 

Soak first in cold water or milk. It will then quickly 
dissolve in hot liquid and have no odor. 

Use of Olive Oil for Feting. 

If food disagrees with you fried in fats, try olive oil. 
This is, as you know, a vegetable fat and is not likely to 
hurt one. Parsnips and carrots fried in olive oil and salted 
and peppered to taste are delicious. The oil gives a dif- 
ferent flavor to food, but be sure it is pure. 

To Test Beead. 

If the dough of light bread springs right up when the 
finger is pressed upon it and leaves no dent, it is ready 
for the oven and should be baked immediately. 

3 



34 EMERGENCY HELPS FOU 

Bread Crumbs. 

Crumbs grated fresh from the loaf give a more delicate 
color than those dried and put aAvay for frying purposes. 

Meat for Cooking. 

Meat should not be washed. It can be cleaned by .wiping 
with a damp cloth or scraping with a knife, and satisfy the 
most fastidious. 

To Skim Sauces. 

Draw the sauce-pan to the side of the fire, throw in a 
teaspoonful of water (cold), and the grease will rise so that 
it may be easily taken off. 

A Good Flavor for Fish. 

Lemon juice or vinegar put into the water in which fish 
is boiled will make the flesh much whiter and add a good 
flavor. 

To Test Soda Batter. 

To test soda batter before cooking, if made up with but- 
termilk and has an acid taste, add more soda until it 
lias a bitter twang. This is a good guide but one must 
be experienced in testing it. 

Mixing Butter or Lard. 

In mixing butter or lard for batters, do not melt, but 
chop or crumble into the flour. 

Too Much Salt. 

If you should be so unfortunate as to make a pot of soup 
too "briny," continue boiling and throw in two or three slices 
of raw Irish potato. 



HOUSEKEEPERS AND OTHERS 35 

To Make Fruit Jelly '^'Jell/' 

To make fruit jelly "jell/' while making, put in one unripe 
bunch of grapes to three or four ripe ones, and observe the 
rules for making jelly. 

To Eemove Seeds from Cranberries. 

Before cooking, cut them in halves, place in a colander, and 
allow cold water to run through them for a minute. 

Green Vegetables. 

Do not cover the vessel in which they are cooked or they 
will turn a bad color. Leave uncovered and add a pinch 
of bread soda to the water and they will be a vivid green. 

To Put Aw^ay Pish. 

To put away fish and to keep them fresh, do not lay one on 
top the other, but wring out a clean cloth from salted water, 
wrap them separately in this and lay on a cool dish. Set in 
a cool place. 

Making Coffee. 

When making coffee add a pinch of salt after placing it in 
the pot. The flavor will be much improved. 

To Make Irish Potatoes Light. 

When boiling them, throw them from cold water into boil- 
ing water to which has been added a little sweet milk. It 
will prevent them from being tasteless and heavy. 

To Keep Cheese Moist. 

Wfrap in a cloth wrung out of vinegar, place in a paper bag 
and hang in a cool place. 



36 EMERGENCY HELPS FOR 

To Make Fowls Tendee. 

A spoonful of vinegar or pinch of soda put into tlie water 
in Which meat or fowls are boiled will make them tender. 

ElCE. 

Eice will have a much finer flavor if washed in hot water 
before cooking. 

Whites op Eggs. 

Fold whipped whites of eggs into any mixture rather than 
stir them, as the latter method breaks the air cells. 

Breaking Eggs. 

It pays to break eggs one at a time, into a saucer, so that 
any can be rejected if necessary and the mixture not be 
spoiled. 

Scalded Milk. 

Milk is scalded when the water in the double boiler boils. 

"When to Fse Soda. 

Always use soda with sour milk, also with molasses, in- 
stead of baking powder. 

Salt in Cooking. 

If any dish, either soup, vegetable or sauce, becomes too 
salt, dust in a little brown sugar and the dish will again 
become palatable. Brown sugar is the antidote for salt. 

"To Huery the Pot.'' 

Do you wish to rush the contents in the inner vessel of 
your double boiler? Add some salt to the water underneath, 



HOUSEKEEPERS AND OTHERS 37 

half a teacupful to two quarts of water. Boiling salty water 
generates quickly a strong heat. 

Flavoring Extracts. 

Flavoring extracts should not be added to any hot mixture, 
for if put in while hot much of the flavor passes off into 
steam. 

Whipping Cream. 

Add a pinch of salt to cream before whipping it, also whip 
it in a pitcher, as it will whip more easily. 

Gravy-Making. 

When making gravy remove the pan from the fire while 
the thickening is being stirred in, and when smooth return 
to the fire to cook. This will prevent lumps forming. 

To Remove Fish Scales. 

Fish scales can easily be removed by pouring hot water 
on the fish slowly until the scales curl, then scrape quickly. 
Wash in several waters, having the last cold and well salted, 
so that no slime will be left. 

To Keep Food Warm. 

Instead of putting food into the oven for late comers, 
cover it closely and place over a pan of hot water. The 
steam will keep the food hot and at the same time prevent it 
from drying. 

To Keep Cakes Moist. 

Put them in a stone jar. 



38 EMERGENCY HELPS FOR 

To Test Beef. 

To test beef press it down with the thumb. If it rises 
quickly it is good. It should be fine grained, of a bright red 
color, with streaks of clean, white-looking fat. The meat is 
apt to be tough unless there is plenty of fat on it. 

To Peevent Odors. 

Tie a piece of bread the size of your fist in a rag and 
put in the kettle of boiling vegetable. 

To Stir Marmalade or Jam. 

Put a large handful of marbles on the bottom of the kettle 
in which it is cooked and the constant moving of them will 
stir it sufficiently. 

Meringue on Pies. 

Do not expose your meringue after cooking too suddenly 
to a cooler temperature, as it is most apt to fall. 

Flavoring. 

Try flavoring chocolate blanc mange with cinnamon, also 
chocolate fudge. 

To Keep Cake from Burning. 

When placing in the oven set in another tin and you will 
not have burnt cake; an old stove rack is very valuable for 
the same purpose. 

To Cook Ehubarb. 

If rhubarb is scalded before cooking it will require less 
sugar and at the same time lose none of its acidity. 



HOUSEKEEPERS AND OTHERS 39 

To Know Fresh Oysters. 

Shell oysters that open quite easily should not be eaten. 
Fresh ones close very firmly on the knife when being opened. 

A Pancake Pointer. 

When making pancake batter, add about one tablespoon- 
ful of melted butter to one quart of batter and you will 
not have to grease the griddle. The cakes will be improved 
and your kitchen will not be filled with smoke. 

To Prevent Tea erom Staining Damask. 

Put a lump of sugar in the tea-pot and it will prevent tea 
fi'om staining any damask, however fine, over which it may 
be spilled. 

Pie Crust. 

Pie crust will not be soggy if brushed over with white of 
egg before the fruit is put in. 

After Peeling Onions. 

Eub the hands with raw potato to remove the odor. Try 
it. 

To Prevent Sugar from Graining. 

Sugar can be prevented from graining by the use of a little 
cream of tartar, tartaric acid, or lemon juice. 

Cakes and Puddings. 

Try substituting dates for raisins in making cakes and 
puddings. The dates, in addition to being cheaper, are said 
to be more wholesome. 



40 EMERGENCY HELPS FOB, 



To Boil Milk. 

Wlien you boil milk grease the pan with butter before 
putting in the milk. This will prevent the granules on the 
bottom of the pan, which burn so easily and are so hard to 
wash off. 

Cooking a Ham. 

To prevent dryness, a ham should be left in the water in 
which it is cooked until perfectly cold. 

To Remove G-eease eeom Broth. 

A good way to remove grease from broth is to pass a piece 
of brown or white wrapping paper across the top of the broth 
before using. The grease adheres to the paper. 

Something to Know. 

When a kettle of meat or vegetables scorches, place the 
kettle in cold water as quickly as possible and the unburnt 
food will not taste scorched. 

Potato Hints. 

Potatoes which have been frozen can be used and be as 
good as ever if not allowed to thaw. If they thaw the least 
bit they are worthless. Pare them in cold water and drop 
one at a time in boiling water. 

In the winter or early spring when potatoes are sprouted 
or withered, pare them early in the morning and allow them 
to stand in cold water. Then put them over the fire in cold 
water and you will have good potatoes with very little of the 
old taste. 

, Lemons. 

Before using lemons always roll them, they will produce 



HOUSEKEEPERS AND OTHERS 41 

more juice. Add lemon juice to rice when boiling, as it 
causes the grains to separate. 

]!^atueb's Way. 

If those troubled with constipation or inactive bowels will 
try this remedy, much distress will be avoided : 

Mix two cups of fine wheat bran with one cup of pastry 
flour, adding one-half teaspoonful of salt, one half-cup of 
molasses, one teaspoonful of saleratus, dissolved in one and 
one-quarter cups of sweet milk. An egg improves but is not 
essential. Bake in gem pans and eat one gem at each meal 
or twice daily as required. 

The Old Way and the New. 

Every country housekeeper knows the enormous waste from 
the lard supply in "cracklings" in the old way of "drying up" 
lard at hog-killing time. 

The new way turns all the fat into lard. Cut the fat 
from the skins, free it from all lean particles and bloody 
shreds, and where there is only a small quantity to be ren- 
dered mix the leaf lard with the other fat. Wash first in 
quite warm water and rinse twice in cold water, put it on the 
stove in closely covered vessels, stiring frequently until the 
fat is boiled perfectly done and tender. Have ready some 
good, home-made, sound wood-ash lye, strain from all sed- 
iment and add half a teacup of the lye to each gallon of the 
fat, first removing it from the fire to cool somewhat, or it 
may boil over. Eeturn to the fire and cook gently. If the 
fat is thoroughly done it will soon be reduced to a creamy 
consistency, the fat entirely dissolved. Cook the lard un- 
covered after the lye is added. When the lard is done it 
will be perfectly clear, with a very thin, brown gummy 
scum on top; no cracklings at all. 



EMERGENCY HELPS FOR 



EemO'Ve this scum and let the lard remain on the stove at 
the scalding, bnt not boiling, point for two or three honrs. 
Pour into perfectly dry, hot earthen jars; holding only one 
gallon each is the best size. Let it cool uncovered and then 
cover closely and keep air-tight. Keep in a cool, dry place. I 
prefer to keep my lard in small vessels because oijly the 
small quantity is exposed to the air while using , the bulk of 
the year's supply remaining air-tight, and in no danger of 
becoming rancid. 

Quick Cocoa. 

"A Little Help" that we find a big help, cold mornings 
when we like particularly for the school-children to have 
a warm nourishing drink with their too often hastily eaten 
breakfast, is how to make delicious cocoa with little time 
and trouble. Use a teaspoon each of cocoa and sugar for 
each cup. Place dry in sauce-pan and shake well; pour over 
it hot water. It dissolves instantly and is ready for the milk. 
Let come to a boil and it is ready to serve. ISTo extra dishes 
to wash, and no lumpy, sticky mess, as by the old process of 
dissolving cocoa by itself. 

Flavoring Extracts. 

Rather than use cheap extracts buy one-half ounce of any 
essential oil and use one drop of it in place of the usual 
amount of extract. The cost is trifling, there is no danger 
of impure alcohol, it will keep indefinitely and you know 
that you have the real thing. Peppermint, wintergreen, 
clover, lemon, oranges and others may be used in this way. 

Chopping Eaisins. 

It is true that raisins when put through a chopper come 
out lumpy and sticky. I find that by first washing them in 



HOUSEKEEPERS AND OTHERS 43 

cold water, tlieii putting them through the chopper, they come 
out free and in fine condition for use; — ^not adhering in masses 
as before. 

For Mealy Baked Potatoes. 

Bake in a quick oven and when done and soft press them 
so as to crack, allowing the steam to escape. Let remain 
in the oven a few minutes and serve immediately. 

To Take Fishy Taste from Duck. 

Eub well before cooking with onion and while cooking 
place inside of the bird six whole cranberries. 

When Making Jelly. 

If jelly is boiled long after adding the sugar, the mixture 
will leave a coating on the sides of the kettle, as it boils 
down or evaporates, which may be scorched by the heat of 
the stove, and will destroy both the flavor and color. This 
I learned from experience after being at a loss to know why 
my jelly did not always have the fine flavor and beautiful 
color I sometimes obtained. 

To make perfect jelly, clear fruit juice should be reduced 
one-third and the juice obtained by cooking the more solid 
fruits should not only be boiled away one-third, but also 
long enough to evaporate the water used in cooking the fruit. 
Measure the juice and turn it into a clean kettle, add an 
equal quantity of granulated sugar and boil gently fivc 
minutes, not allowing it to rise in the kettle. Jelly made 
thus will be perfect in consistency, flavor and color, providing 
the fruit used is fresh and just ripe — ^not over-ripe. 



44 EMERGENCY HELPS FOR 

To Cream Potatoes. 

When mashing do not put cold milk with them, always 
heat, and yon will be pleased with the result. Cream briskly. 

To Keep G-reen" Vegetables Fresh. 

To keep lettuce, celery, cucumbers, etc., fresh several days, 
without ice, fold them loosely in a damp cloth; in this way 
they will keep crisper than when put on ice. 

To Eemove Meats Whole from Pecan Kuts. 

Soak them over night in cold water. For years this was 
a secret method of the Italians but was finally divulged. 

Convenient Lemonade. 

Lemon syrup at a minute^s notice on a hot day is con- 
venient. Melt one pound of sugar with water enough to keep 
it from burning and boil it until it spins a thread. Add 
to this the juice of one dozen lemons and the thin rind of 
four lemons, and heat the mixture thoroughly, but do not 
allow it to come to a boil. Strain, and when cool bottle. A 
tablespoonful is sufficient for a tumbler of lemonade. 

Another Wat to Cook Potatoes. 

To make a baked potato as delicious as possible put it in 
a napkin when taken from the oven and rub it gently between 
the hands until mealy. Do not break it or you will have 
a moist, heavy potato. 



HOUSEKEEPERS AND OTHERS 45 

"White Peppee. 

Always use white pepper when seasoning a cream, sauce, 
mashed potatoes, a white soup, a creamed dish, savory rice, 
poached eggs, or any white dish in which the black grains 
of pepper would show. 

Cooking Tueistips. 

Drop in the vessel a pinch of sugar when boiling tur- 
nips, it improves them wonderfully. 

Cooking a Ceeeal. 

Occasionally a cereal, when nearly cooked, will be too 
moist to serve because the proper quantity of water and 
grain has not been used. Do not add more of the cereal, 
for it would not cook equally; instead, for fifteen minutes 
leave off the lid and let the water in it evaporate. 

Cooking Stew. 

When it is not possible for you to watch a stew and keep 
it from boiling — which toughens the meat and spoils the 
flavor — put it to cook inside a double boiler. Simmering 
makes tender the toughest sort of meat. 

Hatpins and Knitting ISTeedles "in Cookeet."'' 

Keep a thin knitting needle or blunt hatpin by the stove 
to use in piercing any vegetable which is cooking. It will 
not leave as unsightly a mark as a fork. 



46 EMERGENCY HELPS FOR 

To Clarify Molasses. 

The old-fashioned way is as follows : heat it over the 
fire, with one pint of fresh sweet milk for each gallon. The 
scum which arises should be taken off before it is broken 
by boiling. 

To Clarify Pickle Vinegar. 

If you add a few strips of horse radish root or half a cup- 
ful of nasturtium seed while putting up the pickles, the 
vinegar will remain perfectly clear until the last cucumber 
has been eaten. 

Danger in the Teapot. 

A current bit of news records the fact that a family was 
prostrated by some peculiar disease, which baffled experts. 
Finally one of the children died. Careful investigation 
proved the cause of death to be inflammation of the stomach 
induced by drinking tea from a pot in which the leaves stood 
day after day; the tannic acid was really a poison. Of course 
this was extreme, but the habit of keeping tea steeping for 
hours at a time is equally unsafe. Tannic acid acts upon the 
coating of the stomach, and though the action is generally 
slower than in the case cited, it leads surely to stomach dis- 
orders. Tea should not be boiled and should be made 
fresh at each meal by pouring boiling water upon the leaves 
which are put into a perfectly clean teapot. The boiling 
water is sufficient to extract the good of the tea, and the 
teapot should never be set on the stove at all. 

Mold on Olives. 
The mold that gathers on the top of a bottle of olives after 



HOUSEKEEPERS AND OTHERS 47 

it is opened may be prevented by dropping in some grated 
horse radish or nasturtium seeds. 

Kitchen Odors from Cooking. 

In winter, with closed windows, cooking odors have a way 
of insinuating themselves into every crevice. A small piece 
of charcoal dropped into the kfettle of boiling cabbage or 
onions will mimimize the smell, though it will not entirely 
prevent it. A famous housekeeper tells me that to obviate 
the incense arising from cooking cabbage, it is only necessary 
tc boil it gently without a cover. 

To Beat the Whites of Eggs. 

To beat the whites of eggs quickly, put in a pinch of salt. 
The cooler the eggs, the quicker they will froth. 

To Boil a Cabbage. 

A cabbage is rendered more wholesome by boiling in two 
waters; the first carries off the oil, which is contained in 
cabbages and to some persons proves very unwholesome. 

Something about Ice Cream. 

If half of the cream to be used in making ice-cream is 
first scalded and the sugar melted in it, there will be no 
danger of churning it into butter, as sometimes occurs when 
it is used unscalded. After cooling, add the remainder of 
the cream demanded by the recipe. It will be richer and 
more velvety in texture than if the "raw" cream is used. 



48 EMERGENCY HELPS FOR 

Effect of Temperature on Cake. 

Always remember that loaf cakes require a slow oven, 
while layer cakes demand a quick, steady heat. If the oven 
ip. too hot and is hard to cool, instead of laying a piece of 
paper on top of the cake, a plan which frequently causes it 
to fall, set an asbestos mat on the upper rack of the oven, 
It absorbs a great deal of the heat and prevents the top of the 
cake from burning. 

To Obtain Onion Juice. 

To obtain a few drops of onion juice, take a slice of tht 
onion and scrape the cut surface with a sharp knife over the 
dish you wish to flavor. 

Baking Fish. 

When baking a fish that is very thin dished near the tail, 
pin about it, five or six inches from the tail up, a small 
pocket of buttered paper, which will preserve its shape and 
keep the tail from becoming dry and brown before the thicker 
portion is cooked. 

Fried Oysters. 

Never fry more than six oysters at once unless you have 
a very large kettle of fat. If more are cooked they will 
cool the fat, soak up the grease, and take a long time to brown. 

Croquettes. 

When croquettes dissolve or come to pieces in the frying 
kettle, it is because they have not been properly dipped and 
crumbed. Every particle of a croquette must be covered 
with egg to seal it, as it were, from the fat entering through 
small holes or openings. If these rules are observed with 
oysters and croquettes you will have no fear of failure. 



HOUSEKEEPERS AND OTHERS 49 

The Caee of Dried Feuits. 

Wipe with, a damp cloth figs and dates, wash prunes, raisins, 
or-any dried fruit before using. They have lain open to dust 
during the drying process, while fruits cured in Oriental 
countries are frequently exposed to the most uncleanly con- 
ditions. 

Whipped Cream. 

It is almost impossible to whip cream unless it is thoroughly 
chilled and is at least twenty-four hours old. 

Making Mayonnaise. 

A good rule to commit to memory for the making of 
mayonnaise is three eggs to one quart of oil, and half a cup 
of vinegar or lemon juice. Sometimes it will take less oil, 
if it is very cold. 

Peas and Beans. 

*^ 

In cooking peas and beans that are too old to be tender, 
add a pinch of baking soda to the water in which they 
are cooked; it removes the strong flavor and makes them 
more delicate as well as more digestible. 

Cooking Vegetables. 

In cooking snaps, peas and most vegetables, never add cold 
water, when that in which they are cooking has nearly boiled 
dry ; rather wait until you can heat some, as snaps, especially, 
will shrivel and become unsightly and unpalatable. 

Scallops. 

Scallops crumbed, individually, take so much time that it 
is a much easier method to put the finely sifted crumbs on a 



50 EMERGENCY HELPS FOE 

paper and into this drop the egged scallops. Lift the paper 
by the comers and toss the scallops gently in the crumbs until 
they are well coated and dry. It also makes a lighter scallop 
or dish. 

Devilled Ham. 

When a boiled ham has been almost used, cut off every 
available bit of meat, discarding tougb gristle and skin, put 
it through the finest knife of the meat chopper, season bighly, 
when it vill be transformed into devilled ham. Pack in a 
small jar, cover with melted butter and put away to use for 
sandwiches. 

Ham bone may be used for soup stock. 

Plaix Apple Sauce. 

Plain apple sauce may be completely transformed into a 
really delicious dish by various small additions. Dates 
stoned and cut in two, orange peel in flakes, half a cupful of 
English walnuts or a cupful of plump raisins will so flavor 
and enrich apple sauce that it will be welcomed as a dessert. 

To Keep Ceeam. 

If you have a cupful of cream on hand that you wish to 
keep fresh, add to it two or three lumps of sugar, stirring it 
well; then cover closely and set in the coldest comer of the 
refrigerator. 

Seasoxin-gs, Suggestive. 

There are certain flavorings which seem required in reheat- 
ing certain meat left-overs. Beef needs browned onions, mut- 
ton or lamb browned onions with chopped celery; chicken 
requires parsley and celery salt; veal, lemon juice and onion 
browned in butter or an addition of tomatoes. 



housekeepers and others 51 

Beoiled Meats, 

In broiling meats over coals never allow tiiem to smoke 
the least. After the coals have bnrned down somewhat, 
throw on a handful of salt to deaden the bine flame that 
arises. If the dripping takes fire, remove the meat from the 
stove to cool a few minntes. Do not try to blow it ont, as 
there is danger of burning the face. 

Testing Eggs, 

Drop eggs in a dish of water and if the small end comes 
to the top they are fresh. 

Boiling Watee. 

Use boiling water when it first boils or the gases will 
escape and the water become flat. 

To Make Cooked Meat Tendee. 

Wrap boiled or roasted meat in a moist cloth when intended 
to be used cold. This will make it more tender and prevent 
it from dr}dng. 

To Keep Preserves from Molding. 

A panful of lime kept in the cupboard where jams and 
preserves are stored away will prevent molding. 

To Clarify Soup. 

The white of an egg dropped into a pot of soup will 
gather to it all impurities. When it curdles, remove it. 

To Preserve Color op Green Vegetables, 
A lump of sugar put in to boil with green vegetables will 



53 



EMERGENCY HELPS FOE. 



preserve their color and improve the flavor, especially that of 
peas. 

Weights and Measures for Cooks. 

One quart of wheat flour weighs a pound ; of Indian meal, 
one pound, two ounces; soft butter, one pound; best brown 
sugar, one pound, two ounces; powdered white sugar, one 
pound, one ounce; broken loaf sugar, one pound; four large 
tablespoonfuls make one-half gill; one common tumbler 
holds one-half pint; one common-sized wine glass holds one- 
half gill ; a teacup holds one gill ; a large wineglass holds two 
ounces • a tablespoonful is equal to one-half ounce. 

Cream in" Coffee. 

Cream, as well as milk, boiled adds to the richness of 
coffee and does not chill it. 

To Thicken Custards^ Etc. 

When yoii wish to thicken a sweet mixture that calls for 
corn starch or flour and sugar, take the required sugar, 
mix the flour with it as you would flour fruit for a cake; 
each particle of sugar receives its coating of flour and you 
can put it into' boiling milk or any liquid mixture without 
fear of lumping. 

Experience a Teacher. 

Most women know the discouragement of a light, puffy 
omelet, suddenly, before it is scarcely served or can possibly 
be eaten, flattened into a thin, leathery, shrunken substance. 
If the yolk is beaten separately and the well beaten whites 
put in last — after the milk with a pinch of powdered sugar, 
likewise of corn starch, has been added to the yolks — there is 
scarcely any danger of collapse. 



HOUSEKEEPERS AND OTHERS 53 

Lemon foe Jelly. 

Lemon juice added to fruit juices that do not "jelF' readily, 
sucli as cherry, strawberry, etc., will cause them to "jell." 

WhejST Steamiistg a Pudding. 

It is much better to line the pan with glazed paper well 
buttered. Cut the paper to fit the pan, allowing half an 
inch above the sides. Butter last. This will enable you to 
lift out the pudding intact and serve neatly instead of in 
lumps. This applies as well to loaf cake. 

A Seceet about Soup. 

This comes from a Canadian cook as being the secret of 
the fine flavor of her soup called "plain tomato* soup.^^ Either 
with a dish of baked tomatoes, or with the soup, add one 
cucumber cut up. Cook till soft, and strain. 

Beating Eggs foe Omelet. 

For omelet, custards, various sauces and puddings, eggs are 
only slightly beaten. About twelve or fourteen strokes of a 
whisk mean "slightly" beaten. 

GtEiddle Caees. 

If large bubbles appear on the top of a griddle cake as it 
is first put to cook, you may know your griddle is too hot. 

Soda and Baking Pov^^dee. 

In making a recipe which calls for cream of tartar and 
soda, and you wish to make it with baking powder, remember 
that two teaspoonfuls of cream of tartar and one of soda make 
three of baking powder. 



54 EMERGENCY HELPS FOK 

In using soda and sour milk the proportions for almost 
any dougli or batter is one teaspoonful of baking soda to 
two cups of sour milk. 

CoKN Meal and Flode. / 

In using corn meal in a bread, always scald it with a part 
of the liquid demanded in the recipe to soften its starch. 
There is not time enough during the baking for this to be 
done properly. In using bread flour instead of pastry flour, 
as is sometimes demanded for a baking powder mixture, 
deduct two tablespoons from each cup in the mixture. 

To Cook a Small Eoast. 

First sear it over as you would steak, driving in the meat 
juices, making it more tender and requiring less oven heat. 

Vegetables in Soup Stock. 

In hot weather omit vegetables in soup stock; it will keep 
better. Add the vegetables in making the soup. 

The Tea Cakes Won^t Bukn. 

Turn the baking pan upside down and bake on the bottom 
of the pan and you will never do any other way. 

Peopoetions in Cookeey. 

Five to eight eggs to one quart of milk for custards. 
Three to four eggs to one pint of milk for custards. 
One saltspoonful of salt to one quart of milk for custards. 
One teaspoonful of vanilla to one quart of milk for custards. 
Two ounces of gelatine to one and three-fourths quarts 
of liquid. 



HOUSEKEEPERS AND OTHERS 55 

Four heaping tablespoonfuls of com starch to one quart 
of milk. 

Three heaping teaspoonfuls of baking powder to one quart 
of flour. 

One even teaspoonful of baking-powder to one cupful of 
flour. 

One teaspoonful of soda to one pint of sour milk. 

One teaspoonful of soda to one-half pint of molasses. 

One teaspoonful of baking-powder equals one-half tea- 
spoonful of soda and one teaspoonful of cream of tartar. 

Time Table. 

MEATS. Boiling 

Time 

Mutton, per pound 15 minutes 

Potted Beef, per pound . 30 to 35 " 

Corned Beef, per pound 30 " 

Ham, per pound 18 to 20 " 

Turkey, per pound 15 " 

Chicken, per pound 15 '' 

Fowl, per pound 30 to 30 " 

Tripe, per pound 3 to 5 hours 

EisH. Time 

Codfish, per pound 6 minutes 

Haddock, per pound 6 " 

Halibut, per pound 15 " 

Blue 10 " 

Bass 10 " 

Salmon 10 to 15 " 

Small Fish 6 

Lobster 30 to 40 " 



56 EMERGENCY HELPS FOR 

VEGETAJBLES. Boiling 

Time 

Potatoes 30 to 30 mimites 

Asparagus 30 to 35 " 

Peas 15 to 30 " 

Lima 30 to 40 

Spinach 15 to 30 

Turnips 30 " 

Beets 30 minutes or more 

Cabbage 1 hour 

Snaps 3 hours 

Cauliflower 30 minutes 

Brussels Sprouts 10 to 15 " 

Onions 30 to 40 

Parsnips 30 to 40 " 

Green Corn 30 to 35 

Never take time to put salt in the boiling pot until meats 
and vegetables are more than half done. 

TIME TABLE FOR BAKING MEATS. 

Beef ribs, rare per pound, 8 to 10 minutes 

" well done " 13 to 15 

boned and rolled " 13 to 15 " 

Pound of beef " 13 to 15 

Mutton leg, rare " 10 " 

" well done " 15 

" loin, rare " 8 

" shoulder, stuffed " 'l5 

" saddle, rare " 9 

Lamb, well done " 15 " 

Veal " 18 to 30 

Pork " 30 " 

Venison " 10 



HOUSEKEEPERS AND OTHERS 57 

Time 

Chicken per pound, 15 minutes 

Goose '' 18 

Fillet, hot oven " 30 

Braised meats " 3 to 4 hours 

Liver, whole " 2 hours 

Turkey, 8 lbs " 1% " 

Turkey, very large " 3 " 

Birds, small, hot oven 15 to 30 minutes 

Ducks, tame 45 " 

Ducks, wild, very hot oven 15 " 

Partridge 35 to 40 

Grouse 20 to 25 " 

PISH. 

Large fish about 1 hour 

Small fish 20 to 30 minutes 

BEEADS AND CAKES. 

Light bread 1 hour 

Biscuits 20 minutes 

Cake 20 to 45 

Custards, very slow oven 1 hour 

Pastry — Baking. . . . . 

If pastry is slow in browning throw a little sugar on the 
oven shelf. This will expedite matters greatly. 

WHEisr Cream Is Thin, 

WTien cream from being too thin is hard to whip, add the 
white of an &gg to each pint of cream; the whipping can be 
accomplished much more easily, and the flavor of the cream 
not changed in the least. 



5S EMEEOENCY HELPS POK 

When Broiling Steae. 

Try brushing your steak over with, flour and butter to keep 
the juices in. 

When Feeezing Cream. 

Pack newspapers around the top of the freezer over the ice 
to keep it from melting too rapidly. 

To Cook Potatoes — (Old). 

It makes no difference how old or shriveled the potato may 
be, pare and put on in cold salt water and let come to a boil; 
pour off this water, finish cooking in boiling water, and you 
Avill have a light, mealy potato. 

Fruit Pies. 

In making fruit pies, insert a little paper funnel into the 
centre. The steam will escape and the juice will not run out 
into the oven. 

Lamb Chops. 

Try dipping lamb chops in lemon juice just before broiling 
them. They are delicious. 

Hints about Custards. 

In making a custard of any sort, the whites of the eggs 
are not necessary. Use the yolks to thicken the milk, in the 
proportion of one egg to a cupful of milk. Use whites for 
meringue. 

To prevent a baked custard from wheying, place the dish 
containing the custard in a basin of water while baking. 

To prevent a boiled custard from curdling, do not cook 
more than two or three minutes after adding the eggs to the 



HOUSEKEEPERS AND OTHERS 59 

milk, and do not add salt Tintil you have removed it from the 
stove. 

Scald milk with which to make custard pies. 

Baking Sweet Potatoes. 

After washing sweet potatoes thoroughly, grease the out- 
side with fried meat grease before baking. They will be 
found a great deal more juicy and the peeling can easily be 
removed. 

A Hint to Jelly Makers. 

Don't feel compelled to make all your fruit jelly during 
the hot weather. As the fruit comes in season, cook and 
strain the juice, return to the kettle and let it boil. Can 
without sugar, and make into jelly as needed during the 
winter. In this way you lighten your summer work and also 
need fewer jelly glasses, while the jelly has a fresher taste, 
which is sometimes lost after keeping it for awhile. 

Tinned Fruits and Vegetables. 

In buying tinned fruits and vegetables, select those cans 
whose tops are flat or depresssed, for if the tops are bulged 
out, air has entered the tin and fermentation set in. 

Canning Apples. 

Try canning apples in slices with the peel on — ^ready for 
frying. Steam them rather than boil, as you wish the 
pieces whole and not entirely done. This is a great con- 
venience and a good breakfast dish in late spring when 
apples are expensive. 



60 EMERGENCY HELPS FOR 

CAi;rNING AND PRESERVING. 

Always heat rubbers before placing on jars to avoid the 
rubber taste after being canned. 

To Loosen Can Tops. 

When tops stick very tightly to cans, submerge the top in 
hot water and unscrew immediately. 

IsTew Can Tops. 

In buying new can tops sometimes a sharp edge is found; 
scrape with a knife to avoid cutting rubber when sealing 
cans. 

New Rubbers. 

When buying new rubbers buy black or dark ones, as they 
are purer rubber and do not get as stiff with use. 

To Keep Parsley. 

To keep parsley for soups, gather in the fall and sprinkle 
with salt in layers in glass jars. 

Defective Fruit Cans. 

When fruit cans are defective, run white wax — melted — 
around the top where metal and rubber unite. It has proved 
a sure remedy, is easily applied with a spoon, and can be 
repeated many times. 

Syrup Cans. 

Save your syrup cans such as have close-fitting tops. 
These if washed nicely and are not bent answer very well 
for canning purposes, sealing with wax and resin melted 
together, or resin strings. 



housekeepers and others 61 

Canning or Bottling Cider. 

To keep cider perfectly sweet indefinitely, scald the cider, 
and when just at the boiliag point, pnt iato self -sealing 
bottles, fruit jars or commlon bottles. If the latter, scald 
the corks, and cover with beeswax and resin. The bottles 
must be filled to overflowing, and sealed or fastened imme- 
diately. It must be bottled not later than two weeks from 
the mill, or it will not keep so well, and not much earlier 
or the flavor will not be as good. This cider has been favor- 
ably commented upon by persons who are competent judges. 



Q2 EMERGENCY HELPS FOR 



HOUSEKEEPERS AND OTHERS 



64 EMERGENCY HELPS FOB, 



HOUSEKEEPERS AND OTHERS 65 



KITCHEN HELPS. 



To Keep the Kitchen Table Clean. 

If all clean papers and pasteboard boxes were cut in 
convenient shape, with a hole near one end, through which 
to hang them on a large hook near the kitchen table, and 
used to stand hot kettles, frjdng pans and other utensils 
on, the table would be kept white and clean without any 
tedious scourings. 

To Protect Dishes. 

Spread a newspaper on the back of the kitchen range 
and stove shelf, before the dishes are placed thereon to 
warm: they will not soil the table linen. 

Ejtchen Lamps. 

If kitchen lamps must be cleaned on the kitchen table, 
spread a newspaper down before commencing the operation. 

To Clean Porcelain Sauce-Pans. 

Fill them half full of hot water, and put in the water a 
tablespoonful of powdered borax and let it boil. If this 
does not remove all the stains, scour well with soap and 
borax. 

Filling Salt Cellars. 

Salt and pepper shakers can be quickly and neatly filled 
by the use of a small funnel placed in 1)he mouth of each. 

Sugar in the Teapot. 

Put a lump of sugar in the teapot and it will prevent 
5 



66 EMEEGENCY HELPS FOR 

tea staining any damask, however fine, over which it may 
be spilled. 

Sink Brushes. 

Use wire brushes for cleaning sinks; they have wire 
bristles which do not become wet and sodden with greasy 
water, etc., and are as sweet and clean after a whisk through 
hot suds as though they had never known what sink brush- 
ing was. 

Soda in the Kitchen. 

Sal soda is best but bread soda or bicarbonate is cheap 
and always on hand. Jugs, jars, churns, in fact dishes, 
almost anything, may be made sweet and cleansed with soda 
and hot water. 

To Mend Cr^^cks in Stoves. 

Take equal parts of wood ashes and salt and make a 
paste or cement about the consistency of putty, fill cracks 
with it and allow to dry before building a fire. 

\ To Clean Stove Pipes. 

Potato peelings and zinc filings put in the stove or fur- 
nace over hot coals will by a chemical process keep all pipes 
clean of soot. 

Good Kitchen Soap. 

Cut an ordinary bar of soap in small pieces, put it in 
three pints of hot water, and add one ounce of borax. Let it 
melt but not boil and, when well mixed, pour out to cool. 
Cut in cakes. If fou vsdsh hard soap use less water. Made 
in this way the soap will go further, and labor lessened. 
It is very good also for laundry purposes, as it improves the 
whiteness of the fabric. 



HOUSEKEEPERS AND OTHEaS 67 

To KJEEP Salt Dry. 

On damp days salt becomes clogged in salt shakers. Try 
mixing with the salt a little corn starch, flour, or one-fourth 
as much rice grains as salt — or set in warming oven. 

Food Burning on Stoves. 

Tlie disagreeable odor^s may be done away with if imme- 
diately after anything boils over on the stove, you will 
sprinkle salt upon the place. 

To Prevent Kitchen Odors. 

Tie a piece of bread, the size of your fist, in a piece of 
cheese cloth and put in the kettle of boiling vegetables. 

To Eemove Burnt Meat from a Kettle or Pan. 

Fill the pan with cold Avater and allow to stand several 
hours, when the burnt meat, or food, will come up in a soft 
crust. 

Soapstone Griddles. 

The cracking of soapstone griddles is perhaps oftener 
due to their being heated too suddenly. Always set on the 
back of the stove, sometime before using, to allow them to 
heat gradually. 

Hot GtReasb. 

When hot grease is spilled on the floor, immediately 
dash upon the grease some cold water, which will harden it 
and prevent it from soaking into the floor. 

To Extinguish a Flame. 

I have learned by experience that you can at once ex- 
tinguish the flame of a gasoline stove that has blazed up — 



68 EMERGENCY HELPS FOB 



as it will sometimes do — hy putting a little flour on the 
burner. This will extinguish it at 
blankets have been tried and failed. 



burner. This will extinguish it at once when water and 



A Good Stove Polish. 

This recipe was obtained from a dealer in stoves, and 
used upon work just received from the factory. Take about 
a half cup of plumbago, mix with it just enough black asphal- 
tum varnish to gather up the dusty powder; then mix with 
this, enough benzine or gasoline to make a tliin polish. Put 
on with a brush as you would paint. Rub with a brush or 
flannel cloth. This is a cold stove polish, for if used on 
a hot stove it would immediately ignite and perhaps cause 
serious trouble, as the gasoline is very inflammable and should 
under all circumstances be used by an intelligent person. 

Remedy fok a Hot Fire. 

If your fire gets too hot, sprinkle upon it a little salt. 

Obstinate Spots on Stoves. 

G-rease spots that have burnt and become hard on the 
stove may be removed by a few drops of kerosene oil on 
the cloth before they are rubbed. 

To Burn Out Soot. 

If newspapers saturated with kerosene oil are stufled in 
the pipe of cook stove, and fired, the accumulated soot will 
burn out. 

Common Salt as a Cleaner. 

WTien earthenware vessels have been burnt brown in 
cooking fruit, or milk or enamel pans, or pie dishes are 



HOUSEKEEPERS AND OTHERS 69 

stained, or cups stained with tea, rub them with a little 
common salt. 

To Impkove Stove Polish. 

A few drops of turpentine in stove polish will give a 
better gloss and last longer. 

To Eepair a Teapot. 

When your tea or coffee pot is bereft of its knob, try a 
cork screwed on and fastened with a nut on the inside of 
the top. The cork is a non-conductor of heat and if the 
size of cork is proportionate to top, it is not at all un- 
sightly. 

To Remove a Rusty Screw. 

A rusty screw may be removed by placing a hot iron on 
the top of it and immediately using the screw-driver. 

For the Kitchen Fire. 

A handful of oyster shells thrown into the range fire will 
prevent clinkers, as the lime in the shells will dissolve the 
minerals in the coal which form the clinkers. 

To Cleanse a Frying Pan. 

To cleanse a fishy frying pan, fill tlie pan with cold water 
and set on stove until it boils hard, then throw into it a 
red hot cinder and wash in the usual way. 

Another Way op Cleaning a Frying Pan. 

When iron griddles, frying pans and small iron cooking 
utensils become grimy and have thick crusts of burnt grease 
on them, first rub over well with kerosene oil; then open 
your stove and put the vessel or pan on the red-hot coals. Ii 



70 EMERGENCY HELPS FOB 

will take fire and must become red-hot; at which time take 
it to the sink and ran over it some cold water. Then wash 
thoroughly, and in most cases it will be clean like new iron. 
Grease well and use again. 

To Harden Glasswaeh. 

To make glassware, crockery or china less susceptible to 
changes of temperature, boil them in salt water. 

To Prevent Steel erom Eusting. 

If steel knives, which are not in general use, are dipped 
in a solution of one part soda to four of water, wiped dry 
and wrapped in a flannel cloth and kept in a dry place, 
they will not rust. 

The Kitchen Floor. 

If your kitchen floor is well oiled, that is, rubbed well 
with a little linseed, it can easily be kept clean by mopping 
once a week and an occasional washing with warm soap- 
suds to keep it from gumming. 

A Kitchen Eack. 

A useful rack to have on the wall near your stove or gas 
range to hold sauce-pan covers is made of pine, five feet 
long, one inch wide, and three-quarters of an inch thick. 
Fasten it to the wall with small blocks of wood about three- 
fourths of an inch thick, at each end where the screws pass 
through. My rack holds twelve covers and I have found 
it very convenient. 

A Good Suggestion. 

A cook stove, oil or gas, should always be elevated to avoid 



HOUSEKEEPERS AND OTHERS 71 

stooping when working around it. Try the plan and you 
will soon see how much backache will be saved. 

To Keep the Cook Stove Clean. 

Cover the frying pan while cooking to prevent greasing the 
stove. But if the stove should become greasy put a piece 
of soap in the polish before putting it on. 

To Purify and Sweeten Kitchen Cloths. 

Put them in cold water with soap and lemon skins, let 
come to a boil, then wash out with soap. Dry in the sun. 
Bits of "saved" lemon rinds put into stained cooking 
vessels with cold water will go far towards cleaning them. 

To Keep New Tin from Eusting. 

Before using new tin vessels, either in cooking or for the 
kitchen, grease well with lard, put it in the oven and bake 
well or until thoroughly heated. The same applies to iron 
gem pans to keep them from sticking. 

To Keep Kettles Clean. 

If you grease well the bottom of the teakettle, dinner 
pot or broiling pan before setting over the fire the soot can 
be easily wiped off. 

To Keep Eggs Fresh. 

There are lots of rules in cook books for preserving eggs 
but many seem' to sacrifice the quality of the egg. This 
method will be found first class: Pack them, so that they 
will brace each other (not shake), in a strong but thin 
cotton bag. When filled, pin or sew lightly together, having 
sewed on both sides or ends of the bag a loop by which to 



72 EMERGENCY HELPS FOR 

hang it. Hang on a beam in a cellar where a good current 
of air will always be passing, and every seventh day reverse 
the hanging. Don't forget to do this and with abundance 
of fresh air they will keep for months, delicate and appe- 
tizing as when freshly laid. 

Kettle Covers. 

Of all the useful things in a kitchen, the kettle covers are 
perhaps the most troublesome when not in use. Make a 
large pocket of oilcloth with suitable divisions (binding 
strongly), and tack in a handy place near the cook stove, and 
you can see the cover you want without handling all in the 
kitchen press. 

Zinc a Chimney Cle^vnee. 

Those who use smoky, soft coal may not know that a 
few zinc scraps or a piece of zinc throv/n into the fire of the 
kitchen stove once a week will keep the stovepipe free 
of soot. By chemical action the soot will fall from the 
pipe, and be carried away by the draught, which must be 
turned on. 

To Clean Bottles. 

Keep a box of small pebbles in the kitchen and when 
necessary j)ut in your bottles, decanters, etc., a tablespoon- 
ful or more with a little soda. The pebbles are better than 
shot, as the shot leave behind a portion of oxide of lead, 
which soon impairs the beauty of the glass. 

GrREASE ON THE StOVE. 

If you spill grease on the stove, throw on a little ashes; 
this will absorb the grease and after awhile, when brushed 
off, none of the grease will remain. 



HOUSEKEEPERS AND OTHERS 73 

A Stove Polish Hint. 

Mix the stove blacking with vinegar to the consistency 
of creani;, add a pinch of sugar, put on with a brash and 
polish with old newspaper ; it ' will give a beautiful and 
lasting polish. 

Aftee a Few Years' Use. 

Many cook stoves turn red on top and refuse to receive 
polish. To remedy this, add a little wood ashes to the 
polish, wet with water and proceed to polish as usual. It 
should be added for the top only. 

Take Care of Paper Bags. 

A little thing and it seems trifling, but when in a hurry and 
needing one, it is nice to know that an enamel cloth bag 
tacked upon the pantry door contains, exactly what you 
want. Fold them when emptpng and don't wait until they 
are thrown around and soiled. 

To Eemove Cheert Pits. 

Put the loop-end of a hairpin (after dropping in hot 
water to sterilize) into the cherry and pull out the stone. 
Very little injury is done to the fruit. 

To Eemove Walnut and Fruit Stains from the Fingers. 

Dip them in strong tea, rubbing the nails with it with a 
nail brush. Wash in warm water; they will instantly dis- 
appear. 

To Eemove the Odor of Onions from the Flesh. 

After peeling the odoriferous onion, cut an Irish potato 
peel from a fresh potato and rub on the hands, and the odor 
will leave immediately. 



74 EMERGENCY HELPS FOR 

DoN^T Oil the Kitchen Floor. 

Use linoleum as a covering, or paint the kitchen floor 
with a good house paint — not too dark in color. 

To EIeep Vegetaeles. 

An over supply of vegetables must be kept in a dry dark 
place, as light, warmth and moisture produce either germi- 
nation or decay. 

GrEEASE ON THE FLOOR. 

When grease is spilled on the kitchen floor, pour over it 
a dipper of cold water before it soaks in. 

Paint in the Kitchen. 

The woodwork in the kitchen, especially if dark, will 
look dingy from the use of powders and soap. Instead take 
a pound of bran to a gallon of water, boil for an hour and 
wash the paint. It will become clean, bright and glossy. 

To Cut Hot Bread and Cake. 

First lay the blade of the knife flat on the stove until 
well heated, and it will cut smoothly through hot bread or 
cake. 

Glass Jars eor Vinegar. 

Vinegar should not be kept in stone jars, as the acid may 
affect the glazing and ruin the vinegar. It should be kept 
preferably in glass jars. 

Black Lead Dust. 

The annoying black lead dust that arises when polishing 
a stove with ordinary blacking may be prevented by adding 



HOUSEKEEPERS AND OTHERS 75 

a pinch of powdered gum tragacanth to the blacking, or 
using some of the good paste polishes now on the market. 

Kitchen Knives. 

The best way to clean kitchen knives is to cut a raw 
Irish potato in half, dip in ordinary ashes from the stove 
and add to it a little "elbow" grease. 

Brighten the TInware. 

A hot solution of salt and vinegar will brighten the tin- 
ware in the kitchen, also the faucets over the sink. 

Convenient for the Kitchen. 

Blue litmus paper is a convenient addition to the kitchen 
equipment. It is often difficult to determine whether or 
not milk is perfectly fresh, but put even a drop of milk on 
this paper, and if it is the least acid the paper will turn red. 

Over the Kitchen Sink. 

Keep a cup of Indian meal over the sink. It may be used 
in the absence of soap, and when "fair'^ hands get chapped 
or rough in cold weather use after rough work, and while 
still damp rub them with dry meal and they will be kept 
smooth and soft. 

To Unstop a Sink. 

I repeat what was told me by a plumber. "Kever pour 
lye in a sink pipe which has been stopped by grease, etc." 
The reason is obvious: lye and hot water coining in contact 
with grease makes soap and causes it to form in the pipe 
as a cake of soap. Instead, pour strong washing soda or 
pearline, which dissolves grease. 



76 EMERGENCY HELPS FOB, 

A Few ""Don'ts"" feom a Stove Eepaieer. 

Don't heat a stove rapidly the first time. 

Don''t pile the coal above the top of the firebox, or allow 
the stove to get red-hot on top. It warps and cracks the 
covers. 

Don't let your grate get clogged, shake often. 

Don't let ashes accumulate in the ash pan; a full pan 
of ashes reaching to the grate when a hot fire is on will 
melt the bars of the grate. 

Don't let clinkers remain fastened to the firebox. Throw 
in an oyster shell now and then. 

Don't rush the range with the oven draught open. You 
only waste fuel and burn out the range. 

Don't let the smoke draft stand open except when fresh 
coal is pu.t on. Heat that goes up the chunney is so much 
good money burned. 

Don't burn wet garbage in the stove, it forms steam and 
is liable to crack the firebox. 

Don't set on the stove leaky vessels or spill cold water. 
Cold contracts and will cause the lids to crack. 

Don't let the reservoir covers stand open. The air and 
moisture cause oxidation (rust) and the hinges, are strained. 

Don't let soot accumulate in the flue. Scrape off all 
soot that hangs to the oven bottom, and clean thoroughly 
once a week. 

That "'Fishy'^ Odok. 

There is always difficulty in eradicating the fishy macke- 
rel odor from forks, knives, etc., used in cooking them. To 
avoid this my cook fills a bucket with fresh earth and, imme- 
diately after washing them, sticks them into it, the earth 
drawing the odor out. 



HOUSEKEEPERS AND OTHEHS 77 

To Test Eggs. 

By touching the ends of the egg to the lips a difference 
in temperature of the ends will be noticeable if the egg is 
fresh. 

Destroying an Odor. 

The odor that clings to a pan in which fish and onions 
are cooked may be dispelled by placing in a hot oven for 
ten or fifteen minutes after washing and drying. 



78 EUEEOENCY HELPS FOK 



HOITSEKEEPERS AND OTHERS 79 



80 EMERGENCY HELPS FOB, 



HOUSEKEEPERS AND OTHERS 81 



LAUNDEY .HELPS. 



To Eemove Scorch. 

If any article is scorched in ironing, hang in the hot 
sun and the scorched part will be entirely removed. 

To Set Colors. 

A spoonful of ox-gall to a gallon of water will set almost 
any goods. Soak before washing. 

Fire Brick for an Iron- Stand. 

For an iron-stand a clean fire brick is more satisfactory 
than the ordinary disc of fancy iron, which not only allows 
the air to get at the bottom of the iron but conducts the 
heat from it. The brick is a non-conductor and retains the 
heat in the smoothing iron. 

Enameled Clothespins. 

If clothespins are dipped in white enamel paint and dried 
in the sun, they can be kept perfectly clean and will not 
splinter the clothes. 

Shaker for Washing Powder. 

The pulverized washing powders last much longer if used 
from a sifting can, talcum powder box, or, equally as good, a 
baking powder box with the top perforated with small nail 
holes. 

Hard Soap — Excellent. 

Dissolve one-half pound of borax in five gallons of warm 
soft water; next put in two cans of lye, add nine pounds 



82 EMERGENCY HELPS FOR 

of grease, and cook one and one-half hours or until it will 
harden when tried on a saucer. Cut in bars. 

To Wash Eed Table Linen. 

Make suds of lukewarm water, and good hard soap. Wash 
gently without rubbing soap on the cloth. Einse well and 
dry in shade. When nearly dry fold well and run through 
a wringer. If carefully put through wringer it will look 
as well as if ironed, and not fade. 

An Ironing Sheet for a Table. 

This should be made large enough to turn under an inch 
and allow an inch hem all around. Into this hem run a 
heavy cord or tape. Draw tightly and tie under the top 
of table. For a skirt board make large enough to turn 
under two inches, tacking tapes opposite each other, and tie. 

1 To Remove Tar. 

Before washing, rub well with lard, wash with soap 
and water. Applies to either hands or clothing. 

Washing Fluid. 

Take one pound of washing soda, one-fourth pound of 
unslaked lime, and one gallon of water. Boil up, and when 
cold pour off clear. Use one teacupful to a boiler of clothes. 
It will remove almost any stain, leaving the clothes clear 
and white. 

Borax Soap. 

Cut an ordinary bar of laundry soap in small pieces, put 
it in three pints of hot water and add one ounce of borax. 
L^t it melt but not boil. When well mixed pour out to 
cool. Cut in cakes. If you wish hard soap use less water. 



HOUSEKEEPERS AND OTHEUS 83 

Prepared this way the soap will go further, labor is lessened, 
and whiteness of fabric assured. 

To Wash White Cashmere. ■ 

Cashmere is so apt to turn yellow in washing. White 
soap must be used sparingly. Wash with cold or lukewarm 
water, and when quite clean, rinse well in water, the same 
temperature, with a little blueing in it. Shake, do not wring, 
and when almost dry, iron with moderately hot iron on the 
wrong side. 

Starch Polish Tried and True. 

Take two parts of spermaceti to one of white wax; melt 
slowly together; use a piece the size of a thimble to two 
quarts of starch. It gives a lustre to calicoes equal to 
new, and makes clothes iron easily. 

Prevents Fading. 

A large spoonful of turpentine put in the water when wash- 
ing dresses or waists with delicate colors will prevent fad- 
ing and preserve the colors fresh and bright. 

Washing Fluid. 

Dissolve one ounce of salts of tartar, one ounce of salts 
of ammonia, and one can of Babbitt's potash in five quarts 
of lukewarm water, and add half a cake of borax soap shaved 
fine. Clothes should be dry when put in boiler and should 
boil twenty minutes. Wlien taken out of the boiler and 
rubbed for a few minutes it will be found that all dirt and 
spots will be removed with very slight effort. This fluid 
does not injure the clothes and has been used by a number 
of people. 



84 EMEE,GENCY HELPS FOR 

Washing an Evening Shawl. 

Soak the shawl in warm suds of white soap. Do not rub 
soap on the shawl. Squeeze the suds through it, but do not 
wring. When clean rinse in weak suds of the same tempera- 
ture as the first water. Throw in a heap on a clean sheet 
to dry, turning occasionally. Wlien dry pin in shape on a 
sheet, then sprinkle with cold water to raise the fluffy fibre. 
A knitted or crocheted shawl so washed will appear like 
new. 

Flannels. 

Flannels should never be allowed to lie in the water while 
being washed, but rather washed and hung out as quickly 
as possible. Only a moderate iron should be used, as heat 
turns them yellow. 

Washing Chamois Skins. 

If washed in cold water with plenty of soap, and rinsed 
well in clear cold water, the skins will never be hard, but very 
soft and pliable. 

To Wash Flour Sacks. 

Eather than throw them away before washing, wet them 
well in kerosene, let stand for an hour or more, then put 
them in warm soapy water, wring out, and after a few mo- 
ments wash as usual. These are convenient in the kitchen 
and look so much better than with traces of lettering on 
them. 

A Caution. 

During a long wet spell all wooden surfaces are apt to 
be covered with a slight mold. Experience has taught me 
never again to assort soiled clothes on a back porch. This 
was done by my maid and in the interim of waiting to find 



HOUSEKEEPERS AND OTHEHS 



someone to take the i^lace of an absent waslier^ the dampness 
of the atmosphere caused the clothes nearest the lattice to 
cling to the floor. In every case the pieces were taken np 
with the soil from the floor, and to my surprise, when the 
clean clothes came in, my washer astonished me by saying 
that they were filled with mildew, and she could do notliing 
with them. The consequence was, I was two days work- 
ing on them before the next wash day, some pieces of which 
were never reclaimed, as they were "set" in the previous wash. 

Potatoes Used as Soap. 

Two potatoes grated in a basin of warm water will often 
give better results than soap in washing delicate flannels, 
woolen goods, ribbons, etc. 

To Wash Pongee Silk. 

Pongee silk is washed like a muslin garment, except that 
it must never be boiled or scalded. Let it get quite dry and 
iron with a hot iron. Do not wring. If ironed while wet 
or damp it will either be spotted or darkened in color. 

To Launder Table Linen. 

Careful housewives should look over table linen for stains 
before sending to the wash, as very often it is almost im- 
possible to efface any discoloration after it has been sub- 
merged in soapy water. Follow the ordinary rules of wash- 
ing, remembering that there is no need for table linen to be 
thoroughly dried and sprinkled. Just allow the cloths to dry 
enough to iron well, then hold the hem or selvedge together 
on the side and shake into a straight seam or fold in the cen- 
tre, roll up and in a short time it may be ironed. Iron on a 
table double, reversing the side, and having folded it right 



gg EMERGENCY HELPS FOR 

side in, you may now unfold and fold again, ironing with 
a hot iron and pressing heavily. This takes time, but you 
will be repaid in the end. 

To Wash Curtains. 

In the absence of curtain stretchers, wash as you would 
anything else that needs to be handled carefully, not wring- 
ing, of course; only squeeze out the water. Some lay soiled 
curtains to soak; I do not, as soaking gives them a dingy 
look. Eather after washing through one or two waters with 
good soap or pearline, scald them until they reach the boiling 
point, then rinse and starch with lump starch to which has 
been added a little alum. Squeeze out all the starch you can 
then spread on grass in the sunshine, pinning them as closely 
as possible with hairpins stuck upright in the ground. If 
ruffled, iron ruffles. If scalloped they may be ironed in shape 
with very little trouble. In fact, even with stretchers I 
always shape the scallops with the iron, which makes them 
look flat and smooth as when bought. 

A Laundry Help. 

Much of the labor of ironing sheets is saved if, when 
washed, they are hung lengthwise on the clothesline. The 
selvedge will be found smooth as the rest of the sheet — not 
"curled up." 

Prevents Fading. 

A large spoon of turpentine put in the water when washing 
dresses or waists with delicate colors liable to fade will pre- 
vent fading and preserve the colors fresh and bright. 



HOUSEKEEPERS AND OTHERS 87 

An Economy. 

In cooking rice — of course everyone cooks it dry in the good 
old Southern way — save the water in which it has been boiled, 
to use for starch. It will give the exact stifEness to hand- 
some center-pieces and other dainty articles. 

Stakching Bath Towels. 

Starch Turkish bath towels. These "scratchy/' unironed 
towels are just the thing to use before retiring, giving better 
results than a flesh brush. 

Scorch. 

Never despair when linen seems hopelessly scorched from 
an over-heated iron. Soak stain in lukewarm water and 
squeeze lemon juice over it, sprinkle with salt and lay in 
the sun to bleach. 

Washing Handkerchiefs. 

On wash day soak badly soiled handkerchiefs in a ba^in 
of water to which has been added a generous handful of 
salt. All that is objectionable will be removed and they 
may then be washed as usual. 

Clothespin Apron. 

This is made of bed-ticking with two large pockets. It is 
much handier than a box or basket, as the apron can be 
hung up with the pins, kept clean and always ready for use. 

Something about Quilts. 

By rolling tightly or folding, after washing, and then 
beating with a rolling pin or potato masher the cotton will 
be lightened up and the quilts made soft and new. 



88 EMERGENCY HELPS FOR 

Paint and Wagon Grease. 

By rubbing while still fresh with kerosene or lard, and 
then washing out in warm water and soap, paint and wagon 
grease may be easily removed. 

Sewing Machine Oil. 

When your sewing machine has been too heavily oiled 
and the oil runs off the needle into the stitching, wash it 
first in cold water before sending it to the general wash. 
Use some soap. 

Speinkled Clothes. 

It is much better to use hot v/ater for dampening clothes, 
before ironing, as the moisture is more even and the clothes 
are ready for the iron sooner. 

Colored Table Linen. 

Colored table linen should be washed in tepid water in 
which powdered borax has been sprinkled; wash quickly, 
using little soap, and rinse> in tepid water containing boiled 
starch; dry in the shade and iron while still damp. 

Washing Flannels. 

Wlien washing flannels do not rub or wring them, sop 
them up and down in good suds, rinsing also in suds of the 
same temperature, and the shrinkage will be little. 

For Ironing Day. 

When ironing, if your flat irons do not heat fast enough, 
try placing a dripping pan over them and they will get 
hot much quicker. 



housekeepers and others 89 

Perspikation Stains. 

Ginghams or other colored shirt waists that have been 
stained by perspiration under the arms may be restored 
by soaking the waist an hour or two in cold water, then use 
plenty of corn meal — ^instead of soap — ^to rub the places 
when washing. 

Starched Garments. 

After starched garments have been ironed, hang them in 
the hot sunshine, that they may thoroughly dry, and that 
the sunshine may take out any yellow spots from too hot 
irons, also any odor from burnt or sour starch as is some- 
times the case. 

To Wash New Blankets. 

\^T.ien blankets are to be washed for the first time they 
should be soaked over-night in cold water and then rinsed. 
This is to remove the sulphur used in bleaching. After 
this, they should be soused until clear in a lukewarm 
lather made with boiled soap and water, and then rinsed 
in clear water, the same temperature. 

Hints erom an Observant Laundress. 

Alum used in rinsing water will prevent green from 
fading. 

A handful of salt thrown into rinsing water should be 
used to set blue. 

Ox gall is good for gray and brown. 

Hay water made by pouring boiling water over hay 
is excellent for washing tan or brown linen; when this is 
not used the garments will soon look faded and bleached. 



90 EMERGENCY HELPS FOR 

To Prevent Flannels from Shrinking. 

Let your flannels soak in cold water forty-eight hours. 
Set them on the stove in the same water and let it come to 
a boil. Eemove, and let stand twelve hours. After this treat- 
ment they will remain just the size they were when you 
bought them. * 

To Keep Irons Smooth. 

To clean irons that have become rough and sticky through 
bits of starch sticking to them, wash thoroughly in soap- 
suds, drying well. They will always be smooth and clean. 
Be sure to dry them before heating or they will rust when 
put on the stove. 

To Make Stockings Last. 

Wash the feet of new stockings before wearing: the idea 
of shrinking theni first will make them last longer. 

A Magical Washing Method. 

Take a half bar of soap, shave it, and melt in a quart 
of boiling water. Add one teacupful of gasoline or benzine, 
pour this into a tubful of boiling water and put the dry 
clothes in. Yiou can begin right away on the cleanest things 
or wait a few minutes, as best suits you, for they need 
little or no rubbing. Ladies' waists or baby's clothes need 
only to be dipped and moved about, to come out white and 
clean. 

Grass Stains. 

Before laundering, wet all grass stains with alcohol. 



housekeepers and othees 91 

Gum Aeabic as a Starch. 

Use gum arable water for stiffening daint}^ muslins. 
Clap together the garment you wash until nearly dry, then 
iron quickly. Starch tends to cloud a thin material. 

Alum in Starch. 

It is said that alum put in starch, a teaspoonful to a 
quart, will make curtains retain their stiffness and render 
them fire-proof. They will smoulder, but not flame. 

Ironing. 

In ironing don't fail to spread a little salt on a piece 
of board, upon which to polish and rub your iron. 

Wax for Irons. 

A small piece of beeswax or sperm candle tied in a rag 
will be found indispensable to occasionally rub over face 
of iron; of course wipe before using. 

To Wash Black Stockings. 

Black stockings are apt to assume a greenish hue after 
repeated washings. A simple way of preserving the color 
is to wash them in soap free of soda and in the last rinsing 
water to add a teaspoonful of good vinegar. Wring them 
out and clap them' into shape. A hot iron tends to destroy 
the color, particularly if they are wet. 

Stained Hat Bands. 

To renovate or wash hat bands, when stained, dissolve 
an ounce and a half of white castile soap in four ounces 
of alcohol and an ounce each of sulphuric ether and aqua 
ammonia. Apply with a sponge or tooth brush briskly and 



92 EMERGENCY HELPS FOR 



rinse out with clear cold water. This mixture will wash 
or clean any cloth with fast colors. 

Salts- iisr Staech. 

A heaping tablespoonful of salts (Epsom) put in one 
gallon of starch, while cooking, will put a fine gloss on 
shirts, collars and cuffs, when ironed. 

Salt in Starch. 

Table salt will keep starch from sticking, but will add 
to the flabbiness of ironed clothes in damp weather. 

To Launder Linen. 

A woman I know, who launders linen beautifully, 
starches shirts, collars and cuffs in a thick, boiled starch 
(rubbing it well in) and hangs them out to dry; an hour 
before ironing, the linen is dipped in boiling water that 
has been poured through a strainer containing all the 
odds and ends of fine white soaps. This soap water keeps 
the starch from sticking and adds lustre when hard pressed. 

Laundering Flounces. 

A fashionable dressmaker says: "Be sure to iron all 
circular flounces with the ^grain' or threads of the material. 
This will prevent sagging, and holds good in the pressing 
and laundering of circular skirts as well." 

To Eemove Scorched Spots from Linen. 

Housekeepers are very much annoyed by these, and a 
paste may be made which will remlove them entirely. To 
make : Use half an ounce of castile soap (white) finely 



HOUSEKEEPERS AND OTHERS 93 

shaved, two ounces of earth secured at the druggist's, the 
juice of two peeled onions and one cupful of vinegar; stir 
well and let it boil thoroughly. Cool before spreading over 
the spots, and let remain until dry; then wash out and the 
places will have disappeared. 

A Laundress' Complaint. 

"Pins, hooks and eyes are the ruination of a nice 
laundry,^' said one of those good old colored women who 
bring in my young lady's linens with a whifE of bergamot 
in the starch. "'You wouldn't imagine how many nice 
ladies never think of sewing on a button or tape, but send 
their laundry to me with torn waist bands, and often pins 
left in the garment." She further bemoaned the advent of 
hooks as waist fasteners, saying that she had had an entire 
laundry ruined with small spots of rust coming from the 
back of a single waist of rusted hooks, while the clothes 
were dampened for ironing. "My young mistress," said 
she, with a "befo' de wah" tone in her voice, "always made 
a habit of taking a stitch in the laundry as soon as needed, 
and there was no such thing as sending an unmended gar- 
ment in with her laundry." 

A careless housekeeper has the responsibility on her own 
hands when through such negligence she receives the message 
that her washer-woman has been laid up all week with a 
needle or pin wound in the hand, and it has been pronounced 
serious by the doctor, therefore depriving her of honest 
labor as the bread-winner of a large family. 

To Whiten Clothes. 

A tablespoonful of pearline added to a gallon of cold 
water will whiten dingy-looking white clothes. Put the 



94 EMERGENCY HELPS FOR 

clothes on in a boiler, pouring over them the water in pro- 
portion to clothes. Let come to a stiff boil for about fifteen 
or twenty minutes, then take out and scrub, if necessary, 
rinsing well in two bluing waters. Use ball bluing, re- 
membering not to let the clothes stand in the blue water, 
but rinse each piece separately. Hang in the hot sun. 

To Wash Laoe. 

Cover a bottle with linen stitched smoothly to fit the 
shape. Wind the lace about it, basting both edges to the 
linen. Wash on the bottle — soaping and rinsing well — then 
boil in soft water and dry in the sun. Clip the bastings 
and do not iron. 

To Wash Dark Calicoes. 

Take three quarts of wheat bran and put in a two-gallon 
kettle and fill with soft water, letting it come to a boil; 
dip off all the water and strain into the tub, adding enough 
water to wash the dress, using no soap. Put more water 
on the bran, strain as at first and rinse. Hang in the shade 
to dry and iron on the wrong side. 

To Sayb Tired Feet When Ironing. 

A flat pad for the laundrj^ or an old comfort folded and 
used to stand on, or a child's high chair, with arms removed, 
as a seat. before the ironing board. 

To Wash Colored Muslins. 

Put three cents' worth of sugar of lead into one gallon of 
cold water, soak the garment in it for ten minutes; then, 
without wringing, hang on the line until thoroughly dry. 



HOUSEKEEPERS AND OTHERS 95 

It may be sent to the laundry without fear of fading. Care 
should be taken, as this is a strong poison. 

To Wash Old and Discolored Lace. 

Place the lace flat in a bowl then pour over it a strong 
suds made from some good white soap; now over the top 
of the bowl, cover with a pane of glass, and set in the hot 
sunshine. The water will become almost boiling hot and 
every bit of the soil will be extracted from the lace. After 
rinsing in several clear waters lay the lace on a pillow and 
pin the edges down, giving shape to the scallops. 



EMEEGENCY HELPS FOU 



HOUSEKEEPERS AND OTHERS 



97 



98 EMERGENCY HELPS FOR 



HOTTSEKEEPERS AND OTHERS 99 



HOUSE CLEANING NOTES. 



To Clean Brass. 

The easiest and quickest way to clean brass or copper 
is to rub with a solution of oxalic acid, rub quickly, then 
dip a dry flannel in tripoli or prepared chalk and rub well. 

To Eemove Marks from Polished Tables. 

To remove marks from polished tables, caused by heated 
dishes, make a thin paste of salad oil and salt. Spread it 
over the marked place, let it remain an hour or more, then 
rub off with a soft cloth. The result will be a complete 
disappearance of the spot. 

KJBROSENE Oil. 

Kerosene oil is fine for cleansing a greasy kitchen sink. 
Eub on freely with a soft cloth. 

New Agate Ware. 

Eub new agate ware with salt, to prevent bread from 
sticking to it. 

Kitchen" Windows. 

An old salt bag cleanses steamed kitchen windows with- 
out leaving lint. 

Ammonia. 

Ammonia will make all glass shine if a small amount is 
used in washing water. 

LOFCc 



100 EMEUGENCY HELPS FOR 

To Clean Silver. 

Put one-lialf pound sal soda in eight quarts water; when, 
at a boiling heat^ dip the pieces of silver. Immediately wash 
in soapsuds and wipe dry with a piece of cotton flannel. 

To Clean Silver. 

Take sour buttermilk, put in a deep jar or vessel, and 
soak small silver for about three hours. The acid in the 
milk will search out all the dark stains from carving and 
it will be as bright as though it had been cleaned with a 
brush. Wash well with hot water and wipe dry while hot. 

To Clean Globes of Chandeliees. 

The smoked and dusty globes of chandeliers can be nice- 
ly cleaned by soaking them in hot water to which a little 
sal soda has been added. Put some ammonia into hot water, 
immerse the globes and scrub quickly with a stiff brush. 
Rinse thoroughly and wipe dry. 

To Clean Grates. 

Add half a dozen drops of spirits of turpentine to the 
black lead when cleaning grates, stir well and a good polish 
will be the result, and will also keep stoves from rusting 
when not in use. 

To Clean Mirrors. 

Sponge them perfectly free from all dirt, drying with a 
soft cloth; and when quite dry rub a little powdered blue 
over the glass, polishing it finely with a soft old silk hand- 
kerchief. 



HOUSEKEEPEHS AND OTHERS 101 

To Eenew Old Oilcloth. 

Dissolve half an ounce of beeswax in a claret glass of 
turpentine, rub it lightly over the surface, and polish with 
a dry cloth. 

To Clean" Beds. 

Wash often with salt water slats and inner portions 
of your bedstead. 

Beoom Bag. 

Make a bag of white Canton flannel to fit the broom, and 
tie this over it, for sweeping down walls. 

To Brighten Gilt Frames. 

Take sufficient flour of sulphur to give a golden tinge 
to about one and one-half pints of water, and in this boil 
four or five onions, and apply with a brush. 

To G-et Eid of Dust. 

Sprinkle your dust cloth, a brush only distributes the 
dust. It is a good idea to have a long-handled mop made 
of stocking ravelings, slightly oiled with kerosene ; for when a 
duster is mopped, or rather slapped, against carved furniture 
the oil on the same will attract the dust in small cracks and 
crevices and prove very satisfactory. 

A Good Idea. 

It is a good idea to spray clothes closets with a weak 
solution of carbolic acid every spring and fall. At the 
first hint that there is a moth in a piece of upholstered 
furniture, take it to the air — into the back yard if there 
is one — ^brush it thoroughly, then saturate it with naphtha. 
But never do this in the house. The fluid is so volatile that 



103 EMERGENCY HELPS FOU 

even a burning match may set the fiunes on fire and cause 
an explosion. It should remain out of doors until all the 
odor of the naphtha has left it. 

To Cleai^ Isinglass. 

When rubbing up your stove, do not forget that the 
isinglass windows may be most quickly and thoroughly 
brightened by vinegar and water. Eub them quickly with 
a soft rag dipped into the vinegar and water, being careful 
to go well into the corners. This will keep the windows 
clean for a long time. 

A G-REASY Sink. 

To clean a greasy sink, a little paraflfine oil rubbed on 
with flannel will save trouble. 

Bath Tubs. 

To cleanse a bath tub apply with a scrub brush muriatic 
acid, such as is used in commerce. 

Something about Soot. 

If soot from an, open fireplace blows on the carpet or 
rug, sprinkle coarse salt over it and sweep. It will not 
only clean up the soot but will also freshen the carpet. 

Glassware. 

ISTothing improves glassware half so much as using a 
scrub brush with silver polish or whiting. Einse and wipe 
dry, and see how it will shine. 



HOTTSEKEEPERS AND OTHERS 103 

To Clean JSTiokel Plate. 

Use a mixture of washing soda and ammonia with a 
little thin whiting paste, when it is to be polished. If 
cleaned once a week they can be kept clean without much 
trouble. 

To Clean Beass. 

Eub with salt and hot vinegar. 

Bath Tubs. 

To clean bath tubs never use the so-called non-scratch- 
able scouring soaps on porcelain bath tubs, sinks, closets, 
etc. Instead, use a rag dipped in gasoline or kerosene, and 
note how quickly any sediment or discoloration will dis- 
appear. 

Soda as a Cleanser. 

A pint of dry soda dissolved in three quarts of boiling 
water and poured, while hot, into the kitchen, or any sink 
will keep the smell of the plumbing clean. 

Care of E"ickel Plate. 

The bath room requires considerable attention and the 
nickel plate must be frequently cleaned and polished. 
This may be done by using a mixture of washing -soda and 
ammonia, with a little thin whiting paste, when it comes 
to the polishing. 

If a cleaning of this is given once a week the fixtures 
can be kept bright and new without much trouble, but 
if the surface once becomes thoroughly clouded by neglect, 
it will take many repeated rubbings to restore the original 
polish and brightness. 



104 EMERGENCY HEIPS FOR 

To Clean Niceel-Plated Plumbing. 

Use gasoline with a woolen cloth. Care should be taken 
whenever or wherever used not to strike a match or have 
any fire about, as it is very dangerous. 

To Oil a Clock. 

Place a rag saturated with kerosene in the bottom of the 
clock and the dust from the works will precipitate. 

To Brighten Windov\^ Panes. 

If window glass is lacking in. brilliancy, clean it with a 
liquid paste made of alcohol and whiting. A little of this 
mixture will remove specks and impart a high lustre to the 
glass. 

To Polish Windov^s. 

The action of the sun, moisture and carbonic acid in the 
air on the soda or potash in glass produces an opaqueness 
more or less pronounced. To remove this, wet the glass with 
diluted hydrochloric acid, and after a few minutes go over 
the glass with powdered whiting. Pour the acid slowly 
into the cold water, using four ounces of the acid to twelve 
ounces of water (one pint and a half). Polish with chamois 
or soft paper. It must be remembered that this acid will 
attack metals and should not be allowed to touch them, nor 
should the bottle be left open an instant longer than neces- 
sary, as the fumes are very destructive. 

To Clean Bronze Ornaments. 

To clean bronze ornaments, take one draclnn of sweet oil, 
one ounce of alcohol, and one ounce and a half of water. 
Apply quickly with a soft sponge, but do not rub. 



HOUSEKEEPERS AND OTHERS 105 

To Clbajst Linoleum. 

Take equal parts of cotton seed oil and sharp vinegar, 
rub well with a flannel rag. If the linoleum is very dirty, 
first wash it with soap and water, or water to which a little 
turpentine has been added. Do not use washing soda on 
linoleum, as it readily attacks oil and paint, of which this 
floor covering is chiefly made. 

To Eemove Stains from Maeble. 

Mix together a quarter of a pound of whiting and an 
eighth of a pound each of soda and melted laundry soap, 
boiling them until they become like) paste. Just before 
this is cold spread it on the marble, and leave it there for 
twenty-four hours. Then wash if off with soft water and 
dry the marble with a soft cloth. 

Oil Marks on Wall Paper. 

To remove oil marks from wall paper make a paste of 
pipe clay and cold water, leave it on all night and brush 
it off in the morning. A second application may possibly 
be necessary. 

Ink Stains on Furniture. 

Add six drops of nitre to a teaspoonful of water and 
apply to the stain with a feather. If the stain does not 
yield to the first application, make it stronger and repeat. 

To Wipe Stained Floors or Woodwork. 

In wiping stained floors and woodwork, add about two 
tablespoonfuls of linseed oil to the pail of tepid water and 
you will have a gloss that few other oils will give. 



106 EMERGENCY HELPS FOR 



Window Washing. 

Add to the pail of water with which you wash your 
windows a tablespoonful of kerosene. Always wash win- 
dows on a clear, sunshiny day. 

To Clean Linoleum. 

Eemember the fact that the dirt on this floor covering 
is all on a smooth varnished surface and needs no scrubbing 
with a scratchy brush, -soap, or other strong agents, to remove 
it. Wiping with flannel wrung from tepid water, or half 
milk and water, will remove all grime. A mop is not good 
for wiping floors unless a cloth is used for wiping base- 
boards and mouldings after the mopping. If this is not 
done the wood soon becomes streaked and dirty. A good 
furniture polish applied twice a year will be good to retain 
its smoothness. 

To Clean Wall Paper. 

Mix a little soda with a dough made of flour and water. 
The soda will not injure the paper and the work will be 
done more rapidly with it. 

To Prevent Brass Articles from Tarnishing. 

Apply a thin varnish of gum shellac and alcohol. This 
is a valuable suggestion and was given the writer by a 
dealer in beds and bedding. The gas fitter and the picture 
frame maker, as well as the furniture m.an, the dealer in 
grates as well — all make use of it. The varnish furnishes a 
lacquer and ten cents^ worth is sufficient for a brass bed- 
stead. Apply with a soft hair brush. 



HOUSEKEEPERS AND OTHERS 107 

To Clean a Plastek Statue. 

Make a thin paste with cold water and fullers earth and 
spread it on the statue, using a soft brush. FUl a tub with 
soapsuds and wash the statue in this. Einse quickly and 
dry with sponge or soft cloth. All the work must be done 
speedily and carefully. 

Sticky Fly Paper. 

Ttirpentine is the only satisfactory medium for separating 
any article from "sticky fly paper." 

The Cellar and Furnace. 

The inexperienced housekeeper is likely to allow all in- 
terest in the furnace to pass from her mind with the last 
fire of spring days. Such neglect should be repaired at 
once and the furnace thoroughly cleaned and put in good 
condition inside as well as out;, on the principle that 
"prevention is better than cure.'^ The interior should be 
repaired and cleaned, pipes investigated and ready for fall 
use; in other words, anticipate the "rush" for workmen, at 
that season of the year, when everyone seems busy. 

For Washing Woodwork. 

For a week or two before house-cleaning time, I save 
cold tea and cold tea leaves and strain and bottle until I 
have a quart. It is excellent for washing varnished wood. 
Simply rub with a clean rag, using no soap. 

Stains on Marble. 

Sometimes there are stains on marble and in the basin 
of the bath room washstand which resist soap preparations. 



108 EMERGENCY HELPS FOR 

Scrub with dry salt and a cloth wrung from hot water. 
Then wash well with kerosene, later with soap and water, 

s 

EusT ON Steel. 

Eust on steel will generally yield to a paste made from 
fine emery powder and kerosene. Eub the spots with this, 
let it stand several hours, and then polish with oil. 

To Clean" Brass. 

There are many preparations for cleaning brass quickly 
and well, but the old method of using rotton stone and oil 
is quite as satisfactory as the newer ones. Have the brass 
washed with soap and water, then dried. Wet finely powder- 
ed rotten stone with sweet oil and rub the brass with this, 
using a woolen cloth. Go over it with dry powder and a 
clean cloth, polish with chamois skin. 

To Clean Mahogany. 

Spread paraffine oil on the soiled woodwork and let stand 
for an hour or more to soften the dirt; then wash with soap 
and warm water, and wipe dry. Next rub on the mixture 
of paraffine oil and turpentine — one-third turpentine 
and two-thirds oil. Polish with soft old flannel. Let 
it rest for an hour or two, then polish with soft old linen. 

If the surface is very dirty, dull and scratched, instead of 
washing with soap and water, add more oil and sprinkle 
with powdered rotten stone. Eub gently and regularly, 
first with a circular motion and then with the grain of the 
wood. Wlien the surface is smooth and bright wipe off the 
rotten stone and finish as you would after washing with 
soap and water. 



HOUSEKEEPEES AND OTHERS 109 

To Wash Linoleum. 

N"ever scrub with a brush, but wash with tepid water and 
a dash of soap powder. Einse with clean water and when 
dry rub with furniture polish. 

To Clean Wicker Chairs. " 

ITse tepid soapsuds made with some good white soap, a 
large pinch of salt being added. If there are any places 
very soiled or hard to reach, use a smiall scrub brush or an 
old nail-brush. Then wash the whole chair well, using a 
flannel cloth. Einse and dry well. Another flannel cloth 
which has a tiny bit of oil upon it will give the final polish- 
ing. 

To Clean" Furniture. 

First, scrub with soap and water, not wetting more sur- 
face than can be conveniently dried almost immediately. 
Mix one pint of boiled linseed oil and one-half pint of 
kerosene, then rub with this the cleaned furniture. It 
needs plenty of elbow grease. Leave it half an hour and 
give it a second polish, whereupon it will shine like glass. 

White Paint. 

Do not put soap on white paint, it turns it yellow. Use 
ammonia in the water, wash very quickly, a little space at 
a time, and wipe dry. 

Oilcloth. 

Clean oilcloth with sweet milk and water, or skim milk. 
Soap will ruin it. 



110 EMERGENCY HELPS FOR 

To Clean" a Sewing Machine. 

First, take the machine apart, boil in soda water, re- 
place, and oil well. Or, second, empty the oil can, fill with 
gasoline, flood every oiling place on the machine, run very 
rapidly, repeat if necessary, wipe ofE with a cloth, then 
oil, with machine oil. 

To Clean a Piano. 

Your piano may be polished safely and beautifully with 
pure castile soap and cold water. Moisten a soft cloth with 
water and rub well with soap. Dip again slightly in water 
and apply, washing about eighteen inches square surface 
at a time. Dry at once and the polish is there. Do not 
use chamois. 

Ivory Handle Knives. 

To restore the whiteness of ivory knife handles apply tur- 
pentine with a bit of flannel. 

Finger Marks on Mirrors. 

For washing finger marks from mirrors put a few drops 
of ammonia on a soft rag and make quick work of it. 
Mirrors that are fly-specked should be washed with cold 
water, and then polished with a clean soft rag. 

Combs and Brushes. 

If it can be avoided never wash combs, as it makes the 
teeth split, and roughens the tortoise shell or horn of which 
they are made. Small brushes are made for this purpose 
and may be bought at a trifling cost. After cleaning, wipe 
with a damp cloth. Brushes should be washed with am- 
monia or borax and tepid water, dipping the bristles up and 



HOUSEKEEPERS AND OTHERS HI 

down in tlie water without wetting the back. Einse in clean 
warm water, shake well and dry in the shade and air, with 
bristles down. Soap softens bristles and will turn an ivory 
handled brush yellow. 

To Clean Mirroe Feames. 

To clean a gilt mirror frame brush off every particle of 
loose dirt, then wet it, a little space at a time, with alcohol 
applied with a camePs hair brush. Eub off the alcohol, be- 
fore it dries, with a silk or flannel rag. The soil should 
come with it, so change the cloths often. If there are 
breaks in the frame fill up with plaster wet with white of 
egg, shape quickly, let set, then smooth over with plaster 
newly wet to a cream in tepid water. When the outer coat- 
ing is dry, gild either by pressing on gold leaf or painting 
with gold paint. Only the finest frames are worth gold 
leaf. The same treatment applies to picture frames. 
Scratches on the backs of mirrors may be made less noticeable 
by pasting over them a little tinfoil, fastened on with patches 
of glued paper at each end or corner. 

To Freshen Cae1»ets. 

Wipe, after sweeping well, with a rag wrung out of a 
pail of water in which two tablespoonfuls of turpentine 
have been added. Wipe quite hard and wring rag as dry as 
possible. 

To Clean Varnished Doors^ etc. 

Wash thoroughly with strong pearline water; this will 
take off all soil and thumb marks, from around the knobs. 
Now get a varnish brush, some copal varnish and some tur- 
pentine; thin, and apply sparingly. Why stand and oil 



113 EMERGENCY HELPS FOR 

and rub when with a paint brush you can do the work in 
one-half the time ! 

To Clean Woodwork. 

After it has been well washed use equal parts of boiled 
linseed oil, spirits of turpentine and strong vinegar. Eub 
well with a woolen rag. 

To Clean Paint from Window Panes. 

Apply strong vinegar on the spots, let stand for a while, 
then wash as usual. 

Dust on a Waedrobe. 

How easy it is to spread a newspaper on the top of the 
wardrobe ! Then when fall cleaning time comes simply lift 
the paper, fold in the dust and burn. 

Bath Eoom Hooks. 

Hooks used in bath rooms, kitchen and pantry may be 
dipped in white enamel paint; they are easily cleaned, and 
there will be no danger of iron rust. 

To Wash Windows. 

Do you know that a little thin cold starch, rubbed over 
windows and mirrors and then wiped oflE with a soft cloth, 
is an easy way of producing most shining results? 

To Eestore Cane Chairs. 

When cane-seated chairs become shabby and the elasticity 
is gone out of them, they may be restored by turning up 
the seat and washing the cane work with hot water and a 
sponge till it is thoroughly soaked. If the cane work is very 



HOUSEKEEPERS AND OTHERS 113 

dirty, use a little salt in the water. Dry the chairs in the 
fresh air. 

The Bars op a G-rate. 

The bars of a grate often become burned and red. Paint 
them with a little lemon juice, let dry and polish in the 
usual way. 

For Light Carpets. 

Use coarse corn meal mixed with fine salt, sweep it first 
into the carpet — against the grain — ^then out of it with the 
graiu or nap. The salt freshens the colors and kills the 
larvse of moth and buffalo bug. Clean rugs in the samB 
manner. 

A Fine Carpet Cleanee. 

Grated Irish potato, or better, run through the grinder, 
scattered freely over the carpet, and well swept off, is a good 
cleaner, reviving the colors without injury to delicate 
shades. 

Carpets. 

Carpets should be beaten on the wrong side first, and 
afterward, more gently, on the right. Never put down a 
carpet on a damp floor, for this is a frequent cause of 
carpets becoming moth-eaten. 

Mantel Tiles. 

If freshly cleaned tiles are rubbed over with paraflSne 
they will remain clean a long time. 

To Eemove Fly Specks. 

To remove fly specks from varnished surfaces, use equal 

parts of water and skimmed milk, warmed. 
8 



114 EMERGENCY HELPS TOR 

Carpets and Rugs. 

Carpets and rugs may be thoroughly cleaned by being 
hung over a clothes line and having the garden hose turned 
upon them. This wHl do no harm to any carpet. Dry in 
a shady place. 

To Clean Chandeliers. 

Wipe with a soft cloth wet with kerosene. This should 
be done several times during the summer. Fly specks can 
be wiped off in the same manner, even when on gilt picture 
frames; but the cloth must be only slightly moistened in 
the latter case, and used lightly, else the gilt itself may 
come off. 

To Protect Polished Floors. 

If on the dining room you have no covering, try rubber 
tips on the chairs; it not only protects the floor from 
scratches but does away with the immense amount of noise 
when the family gathers around the table. 

■ To Polish Furniture. 

Do not spare in the first washing of it good soap and 
water, making a warm suds and washing a space not larger 
than you can wipe off quickly. Mlk one pint of boiled lin- 
seed oil, one-half pint of kerosene, then rub with a soft 
rag on the washed furniture. It needs plenty of elbow 
grease. Wait a half hour and give it a second polish and 
it will shine like glass. 

Mirrors. 

In placing pieces of furniture which have mirrors, avoid 
having the sufl to shine on their surfaces. I know from ex- 



HOUSEKEEPERS AND OTHERS 115 

perience they will assume a milky appearance and can 
never be restored to their original clearness. 

Flook and Whisk Beooms. 

New floor and wliisk brooms 'should be allowed to soak 
in scalding water a few minutes, to tighten the straw. 

Moths in Caepets. 

If benzine is sprinkled on floors before carpet is laid it 
will prevent moths. 

Before matting is laid always wipe over the floor, as 
when it is damp the straw in matting softens and seem less 
hard to make it lay flat to the floor. 

A Good Finish foe Floors. 

A splendid finish for a stained floor consists in mixing 
about one pint boiled linseed oil with a five cent cake of 
common beeswax melted in it. When put on with a woolen 
cloth, rubbed with the grain, it is a most durable finish. 

Flooes Coveeed With Matting. 

Floors covered with matting should never be swept with 
a stiff broom, as the straws are scratched, and with repeated 
sweeping become cuts eventually, swept up in the shape of 
small split straws. Cover the broom with a bag of outing or 
somie light goods made to fit the broom. Fasten with a 
draw-string around handle. 

To Dry a Damp Cellae. 

Stand in the cellar a bucket full of lime which has not 
been vslaked, and the lime will absorb the dampness. 



116 EMERGENCY HELPS FOR 



HOUSEKEEPERS AND OTHERS 117 



118 EMERGENCY HEIPS FOE 



HOUSEKEEPERS AND OTHERS 119 



CLEANING HINTS. 



To Clean" Black Silk. 

First rip apart. Cover the ironing board with, an old 
blanket or double shawl, and on top tack a sheet. Lay silk 
smooth on this sheet and sponge or wipe both sides with 
following mixture : one-half cupful of ox gall, one^half cup- 
ful of amtnonia and one-half pint of tepid water. EoU 
on a broom handle, having it free from wrinkles. Do not 
iron. 

To Clean a Spot on Silk. 

First begin five or six inches from the spot, touching 
lightly with gasoline, benzine, chloroform, or whatever the 
medium, and until the spot is reached apply a little of the 
cleanser at a time and keep wiping to avoid the rim that 
always follows when applied directly to the spot. 

To Clean" a Strav^ Hat. 

Your straw hat may be renovated as good as new by rub- 
bing with slices of lemon. 

For Cleaning Grease Spots from Clothing. 

Buy ten cents' worth of soap bark, which is sold at drug 
stores, ready chipped for use. Put the soap bark in a bowl, 
covering it with boiling hot water, and after it has steeped 
a few minutes strain and clean with a sponge or woolen 
cloth. Now take the garment, a coat for instance. Lay 
the coat on a well covered board just as for ironing, right 
side wp, and place on it a piece of woolen goods previously 
washed so that any coloring may not fade from it; with 
a reasonably hot iron press all over, care being taken not 



120 EMERGENCY HELPS FOE 

to use the iron on garment^, unless over the piece of 
goods, for wherever the bare iron touches the gar- 
ment it will make a sleek mark. In pressing newly made 
woolens, dampen some of the same goods as a piece 
to press on and press until dry. Of course where the ma- 
terial has been previously shrunken the dampened place will 
not show, otherwise the whole garment must be pressed in 
the same way. Moral: Always sponge woolens before mak- 
ing. 

To Eemove Grease Spots from Silk. 

French chalk will remove a grease spot from the most 
delicate silk by scraping and allowing it to remain on 
spot not less than twenty-four hours. Rub well into the 
silk and at the end of time designated, brush off briskly. 

To Clean a Spot with Gasoline. 

An experienced renovator gives these hints : "The fabric 
should be cleaned with a piece of the same goods, the cloth 
rubbed lengthwise and with the weave. Continue rubbing 
until the material is perfectly dry. These directions care- 
fully followed, insure perfect success." 

Undressed 'Kid. 

Pulverized pipe clay is said to be good for cleaning un- 
dressed kid. 

Spots on Clothes. 

It is not at all a bad idea when in doubt as to the nature 
of a spot on woolens — or anything, indeed — ^to tip the end 
of the tongue on it; in other words, taste it. I have often 
been discouraged after trying to remove a spot with gaso- 
line, and upon second thought used my tongue, as the 



HOUSEKEEPERS AND OTHERS 121 

"tester," and accomplished the work in a few mimites with 
a rag simply dampened with cold water, never soapy. 

Deippings trom Candles, 

Drippings from candles may be removed by dissolving 
and rubbing with chloroform. 

Wagon" Geease. 

Eub wagon grease while still fresh, with lard or kero- 
sene, then wash with warm water and soap to remove. 

Machine Oil. 

When so unfortunate as to over-oil your machine and the 
surplus gets on silk work, immediately cover with prepared 
chalk, or talcum powder, let stand an hour or more, then 
brush. 

To Clean" Lace. 

To clean handsome lace, soiled by handling, pack away 
between paper and under a press, with magnesia scraped 
fine; first, on paper, then a thick coating on the lace, letting 
it remain for a day or two at least. Take out and shake 
well. 

Felt Hats. 

Felt hat may be similarly cleaned, by rubbing on mag- 
nesia. White corn meal rubbed on with the bare hand or a 
cloth will also clean light felt, or beaver. 

A Grease Eemover. 

Two ounces of aqua ammonia, one quart of soft water, 
one teaspoonful of saltpetre, one ounce of shaving soap. Scrape 
the soap fine before mixing and allow it to stand several hours.. 
In addition to a grease remover, this is also sure death to 



122 EMERGENCY HELPS FOR 

bed bugs. It will remove grease that is mixed with oU, 
grease from carpets, by covering spots and sponging 
thoroughly, and rinsing with clear water. 

To Clean White Featheks. 

What more suggestive than water for the plumage of 
birds ! Don't send them to the cleaner, wash them with a 
white soap and clear water. Make a good lather in warm 
(not hot) water, shake the feathers gently in the water 
until they are quite clean. Einse once in clear cold water, 
then in cold water with a little blueing. To dry, shake 
over the stove near enough to warm, not bum. To curl, 
moisten over the steam of a kettle until the strands sep^ 
arate, draw the strands, a few at a time, over the blade 
of a dull knife, not pressing too hard. 

To Clean White Kid Cloves. 

Put the gloves on the hands and with a flannel rag rub 
softly, as you would wash your hands, cleaning well the 
tips of the fingers, seams and stitching. Wash in clear 
gasoline, remove from the hands, hang in a shady, windy 
place, and after the gasoline has evaporated you will be 
surprised at their whiteness. Gasoline that has been soiled 
mjay be poured into a separate jug, well corked, and allowed 
to settle; when it may be poured back into the original jug, 
as clear as when it came out. 

To Freshen the Flowers on Youe Hat. 

When flowers begin to fade on your summer hat do not 
destroy them, but tint them with your water-colored paints, 
or, better still, use your oil paints, mixing with gasoline. 



HOUSEKEEPERS AWD OTHERS 123 

You can display great taste in dipping tlie flowers in a solid 
color, then touching them lightly on the petals, etc., as 
they require. 

Cleaning Light Cloth. 

Wraps of light colored cloth used for dress occasion? 
very soon succumb to the influences of our dirt-flUed atmos- 
phere. Have constantly on hand a bottle of strong borax 
water, say a teaspoonful to a pint of water, dissolved while 
the water is hot. When the first suggestion of soil appears, 
rub it with a fresh piece of cotton dipped in borax water. 
If the spot is very hard to remove use two or three pieces 
of cotton, so that the soil is not scattered. Eub briskly, to 
keep the water from soaking into the cloth. This treat- 
ment will remove dust, mud, and also perspiration stains. 
Be sure and treat the spot as soon as possible. While 
cleaning thoroughly, borax water does not leave the ugly 
circle of stain that gasoline often does. 

To Clean White Silk Lace. 

Soak in skimmed milk over night, souse in tepid soap-- 
suds, carefully rinse, then pull out and pin down while 
damp. 

Black lace may be cleaned with borax water. Use one 
teaspoonful to a pint of warm water. Don't dry it near 
a fire, heat makes black rusty. 

Gold and silver laces can be cleaned with stale bread 
crumbs mixed with powdered blue. 

Toktoise-Shell Combs. 

Tortoise-shell combs may be polished by rubbing, first, 
with a cloth moistened with alcohol to remove the grease 



134 EMERGENCY HELPS FOK 

and dirt, and then polished with a soft cloth and a drop 
or two of oil. 

To Cleajst Panama Hats. 

Of equal portions of precipitated sulphur and oxalic 
acid mixed, take half a teaspoonful and dissolve in half a 
tumbler of cold water. Dip a clean sponge (not too wet) 
and pass over the hat until perfectly clean, then place in 
the sun to dry, after which the hat will look like new. Ten 
cents will cover the cost. 

To Clean ajst Oil Spot. 

If flour is immediately put on oil spilled where not 
wanted, in a few hours, if sufficient flour has been used, 
there will be no trace of it except in the oil soaked flour, 
which burns well. 

To Clean Patent Leather. 

Clean patent leather with the French harness paste sold 
by harness makers. Apply lightly and then polish with a 
soft cloth. Patent leather treated in this way rarely, if ever, 
cracks. 

To Wash or Clean Pillows. 

Whether of down or feathers, empty the stuffings into a 
bag of cheese cloth or mosquito netting, tie the mouth of 
it tight and wash in a tub of strong white soapsuds, 
touched up with ammonia. Eub the bag between the hands, 
and souse up and down for ten minutes. Einse in clear 
hot water twice; do not squeeze but hang to drain and 
dry in the sun or near the heat. When half dry pull the 
bag apart several times. When entirely dry put into a 



HOUSEKEEPERS AND OTHERS 135 

heavier bag and whip vigorously with a rattan whip or 
cane for ten mirmtes. The feathers will be like new. 
There is a slight loss — yon will probably be minus one 
pillow in six. IsTever wash in "&et" tubs, as the down on the 
feathers going into the pipes of a bath tub or wash tub 
will cause no end of trouble. 



126 EMERGENCY HELPS FOR 



HOUSEKEEPERS AND OTHERS 127 



1^8 EMERGENCY HELPS FOR 



HOUSEKEEPERS AND OTHERS lg9 



VERMIN AND INSECT DESTROYEES. 



Moths. 

There is something in printers' ink inimical to moths. I 
have had no trouble in keeping furs and woolens quite free 
from the pests by shaking, cleaning and doing up in large 
newspapers. Label the articles inclosed. 

To Exterminate Moths. 

Clothes, carpets, furs, feathers, woolens, etc., may be 
packed with whole black pepper or cloves, without fear of 
their being molested by moths. Always brush before put- 
ting away. 

Rats. 

Chloride of lime is an infallible preventive of rats if put 
down their holes and sprinkled where they are expected to 
appear. I have also tried powdered sulphur, and have kept 
them away six months at a time. 

To Exterminate Roaches. 

A few drops of turpentine sprinkled where cock roaches 
frequent will drive them away at once. This applies to 
black and red ants as well. 

For Cut Worms. 

Take Paris green (a very little), mix it with what millers 
call "shorts" or "middlings." Use just enough of Paris 
green to make it a light color, dampen slightly and scatter 
about on the infested places. The worms prefer it to any- 
thing in the garden and when they eat it death is sure. 



130 EMERGENCY HELPS FOR 

Calomel for Eats. 

Do not have rats on your premises. A sure and safe way 
is to "salivate" them. They are wise animals, and one 
rat with hair and teeth falling out will tell the story and 
leave, taking with him all the others. Spread five cents' 
worth of calomel upon buttered bread and put where the rats 
come, at the same time putting water where they may drink. 
They will leave in a few days. 

Turpentine for Moths. 

Sprinkle carpets, flannels, and blankets with turpentine 
and you will have no trouble with moths. 

Cajbbage Worms. 

To kill cabbage worms dissolve one ounce of saltpetre in 
three gallons of water, and dip a whisk broom in the solu- 
tion and shake over the plants. Salt and flour is also good. 

Tobacco as an Insecticide. 

Tobacco dust mixed with flour of sulphur will kill most 
garden insects. Apply with bellows. 

Green Worms on Currants or Gooseberries. 

Wliile the dew is still on the bushes and before the bud 
opens, dust well with powdered hellebore. They may re- 
quire a second treatment when the leaves and blossoms are 
out. 

Unfailing for Bed Bugs. 

An unfailing preparation for the extermination of bed 
bugs is as follows : Mix ten cents' worth of corrosive sub- 
limate, ten cents' worth of carbolic acid, and a quart of 



HOUSEKEEPERS AND OTHERS 131 

water. Apply daily with a brush in all spots which, indi- 
cate the presence of such pests. Use a small brush which 
will penetrate into comers and crevices. Saturate all sus- 
picious places. In a short timie the pest will be absolutely 
removed. Avoid abrasions on the skin, as corrosive subli- 
mate is very poisonous. 
I 

Foe Bed Bugs. 

Nothing is better or more time-honored than white of 
eggs and mercury, a thimbleful to the white of each egg. 
Beat the eggs quite light, add the mercury, well beaten in, and 
apply in cracks and crevices with a feather. Always clean 
beds the first of March. 

Insecticide for Eoses. 

Save coffee grounds, dry them out, and put around your 
roses with equal parts of soot. 

Camphor Balls for Eoses. 

Hang in your rose bushes a little bag containing moth 
balls or camphor. 

Tansy — For Moths. 

If tansy is sprinkled about clothing moths will never 
disturb. 

Ants. 

Place around where they frequent little tin tops of 
syrup, and in a short time you will have caught the last 
one. 



132 EMERGENCY HELPS FOR 

Ants and Mice. 

Camphor gum placed around the house where they fre- 
quent will surely make them leave. 

A Chalk Line. 

It is said that ants will not "walk the chalk line." Draw 
a heavy chalk line around the article to he protected and 
if the line is complete they will not cross it. 

To Kill Eats v^ithout Poison. 

Take a common sponge, cut in small pieces, and when quite 
dry spread on it some meat-grease or lard, which they will 
eat quite greedily. The moisture of the stomach will cause 
the sponge to swell and a "deadly" case of indigestion will 
follow. 

To EiD A House of Koaches. 

Take equal parts of red lead and corn meal mixed with 
molasses and spread on plates, placed where they frequent. 
In less than a week there wUl none remain. 

To Kill Worms in Soil. 

When potted plants fail to flourish through some ob- 
scure cause, it may be that there are angle worms in the 
soil. If so, lime water will eradicate them; if not, it will 
be apt to benefit the plants. Dissolve a lump of lime, half 
the size of an egg, in a quart of rain water, and apply until 
the soil around the plant is thoroughly moistened. Apply 
twice a week, rarely more than two treatments are necessary. 



housekeepers and others 133 

Mites in Setting Hens. 

Dust the hen and nest with powdered sulphur, once a 
week. 

Soot on Snaps. 

If well sifted upon them, when wet with dew, soot will 
drive the bugs away which ahnost devour them. 

Potato Bugs. 

Early in the spring, make a mixture of lime, Paris green 
and water and as soon as potato bugs become numerous 
sprinkle the row of plants with the mixturei. Sprinkle 
again when about to lay them by. 

Mealy Bugs. 

If mealy bugs are attacked in time, a whisk broom and 
strong soapsuds is sure death to them. 

Bugs on Cucumbers. 
For bugs on cucumbers, sift plaster over the vines. 



134 EMERGENCY HELPS FOR 



HOUSEKEEPERS AND OTHERS 135 



^^^ __^ EMERGENCY HEIPS FOR 



HOUSEKEEPERS AND OTHERS 137 



STAINS, DYES, ETC. 



To Eemove Cocoa Stains. 

Soak the fabric in clear cold water, tlien wash in the usual 
way. 

Fkom a Missionary in China. 

A Chinese plan for removing ink stains from cloth, is to 
wash them with boiled rice. Eub the rice on the stain as 
you would soap, and wash with clear water. If the first 
application does not complete the cure, repeat the process. 
We have found this to act like magic, even upon stains not 
discovered until perfectly dry. 

Stains on Maeble. 

Iron stains on marble may be removed by applying a mix- 
ture of spirits of wine and oxalic acid. Wash off quickly with 
warm water. 

Mildew. 

To take out mildew, make a thick paste of table salt and 
buttermilk and cover the spot with it. Lay in the hot sun 
for a day renewing the paste at the end of four hours. If 
obstinate, repeat next day. Should a trace of the stain remain 
cyanide of potassium will eradicate it. Moisten the spot with 
water, rub in the powder and lay in the sun for four hours, 
moistening the spot twice in this time. Then wash at once. 
I'ou can get the cyanide of potassium from a drug store, it 
is a deadly poison. 



138 EMERGENCY HELPS FOR 

IisTK Stains. 

Soak in sour milk. If a dark stain remains on the fabric, 
rinse in a weak solution of chloride of lime. Let stand in the 
sun. 

Ink Stains. 

To remove, make a weak solution of oxalic acid and water 
and apply. Stand in the sun. If the first application does 
not remove it, apply again, then wash in cold water. After 
the spot has faded very much the general wash will take it out 

Blood Stains. 

Soak in cold salt water; then wash in warm water with 
plenty of soap. Afterwards boil. 

Grass Stains. 

Saturate the spots thoroughly with kerosene, then put in the 
wash tub. 

Iodine. 

Wash with alcohol, rinse in soapy water. 

Hot Tea and Coffee. 

Soak the stained fabric in cold water; wring; spread out 
and pour a few drops of glycerine on each spot. Let it 
stand several hours, then wash with cold water and soap. 

Iron Eust. 

Put over stain lemon juice and salt, and bleach for several 
hours in the sun. 



housekeepers and others 139 

Geease Spots. 

Hot water and soap generally remove these. If fixed by 
long standing use etlier, chloroform or naphtha. All three 
of these must be used away from fire or artificial light. 

PiTCH^ Wheel Geease^, Tae. 

Soften the stains with lard then soak in turpentine. 
Scrape off carefully with a knife all the loose surface dirt; 
sponge clean with turpentine and rub gently till dry. 

Mildew. 

Soak in a weak solution of chloride of lime for several 
hours. Einse in cold water. It is almost impossible to 
remove mildew if it has once been "set" in the wash. 

Feuit Staiists. 

Stretch the fabric containing the stain over a basin and 
pour boUing water on the stain. In cold weather fruit spots 
can be removed by hanging the stained garment out of doors 
over night. If the stain has been fixed by time, soak the 
article in a weak solution of oxalic acid and water or hold 
the spot over the fumes of sulphur. 

Soot Stains. 
Eub with dry corn meal before sending to the wash. 



140 EMERGENCY HELPS FOR 

Vaseline Stains. 

Saturate the spot with ether and lay a cup over it to 
prevent evaporation until the stain is removed. Use ether 
with great care. Vaseline may also be removed with kero- 
sene oil, to be applied before it has been wet. 

Varnish and Paint. 

If the stain is on a coarse fabric dissolve by saturating 
with turpentine; use alcohol if on a fine fabric. Sponge 
with chloroform if a dark ring is left by the turpentine. 
Avoid fire and artificial light. 

Iodine Stains. 

To remove iodine stains from cloth, wash and soak in 
sweet milk, rubbing frequently. Not a trace of the stain 
will be left. 

Iodine Stains. 

Soak the stain in cold water for a half-hour, then cover it 
thickly with common soda, before sending it to the wash. 

Shabby Spots on Leather. 

These may be dyed with ink mixed with the well-beaten 
white of an egg. Polish with soft dusters until quite dry and 
glossy. 

GrRAss Stains. 

Do you know that if you rub grass stains with molasses 
they will come out without difficulty in the general wash? 



housekeepers and others 141 

Mud Stains. 

Mud stains may be removed from silk by rubbing with a 
bit of flannel or, if stubborn, with a piece of linen wet with 
alcohol. Mud stains m cotton goods are often caused by 
the mud spattering from wheels in driving. The mud often 
comes out but leaves a spot resembling mud, which is believed 
to be, by many, simply iron rust from the wheels mixed 
with mud as it spatters. 

Ink Stains. 

To remove ink stains from the fingers rub with a little salt 
and vinegar. 

Tinting Dress Goods. 

A secret worth knowing is how to tint laces, chiffons, 
silk or crocheted buttons, net, feathers, etc., to a 
gown shade. The materials required are oil paint in tubes 
and benzine or gasolene. The benzine is placed in a porcelain 
bowl and the paint is dissolved in it. The work has to be 
done quickly, and of course in a fireless room, preferably on 
a hack porch. Mix the paint until the exact tiat is reached, 
then weaken or dilute with the benzine, dipping the lace or 
whatever is to be dyed quickly before the paint falls to the 
bottom. Do not let the goods touch the bottom, as there 
might be a spot of paint there. A hairpin comes in handily 
to hold the edges of the goods. Shake quickly and hang in 
the air. Experiment before risking costly materials, but the 
process is really not so formidable. Handsome flowers, espe- 
cially buttercups, daisies and similar small flowers, have been 
made to do double service under a different shade as they 
most always fade during a summer's wear. 



142 EMERGENCY HELPS FOR 

To Eemove an Ink Stain. 

Get your druggist to put up for you some "Labarraque's 
solution/' apply to the spot and you will be delighted with the 
result. This preparation is very powerful and care must be 
taken to rinse the garment immediately after the stain 
disappears. 



EOUSEKEEPERS AND OTHERS 143 



144 EMERGENCY HEIPS FOR 



HOUSEKEEPERS AND OTHERS 145 



THE TOILET. 



Every woman may not be beautiful, but every woman can 
be attractive if she chooses to be. Clean hair and a clear 
skin are the two things most important. If she devotes 
fifteen minutes every day to intelligent care of herself — ^not 
for a week, nor for a month, but for exactly as long as she 
wishes to remain attractive — the results will repay her ten- 
fold. Some of the most efiicacious preparations and reme- 
dies which she can use are the simplest. 

To Make a Good Egg Shampoo. 

Use one egg, one pint of hot rain-water, one ounce of 
spirits of rosemary. Beat the mixture thoroughly and use 
it warm. Eub it well into the scalp and rinse several times 
in clear water. 

^ An Excellent Shampoo. 

Dissolve half a cake of white tar soap, or Packer's tar soap, 
in a quart of boiling water. Let it simmer half an hour over 
a slow fire. Dissolve a tablespoonful of washing soda in a 
quart of boiling water. Add it to the soap mixture. Stir 
together and let cool. Shampoo the hair thoroughly and 
rinse four or five times. Dry in the air. 

Air Bath foe, the Hair. 

Nothing is so fine for the hair as fresh air and sunshine, 
especially during the summer when the head perspires freely. 
Go out 'on a porch, stand in the sunshine and brush the 

10 



146 EMERGENCY HELPS FOR 

hair, massaging the scalp. Sometimes a headache may be 
relieved in this way ; besides, a massage ha5 also a wonderful 
power of strengthening the growth of the ' hair. 

Shampooing. 

How often shampooing should be done depends upon the 
person and the occupation. Those traveling on cars or 
engaged in dusty work should shampoo much oftener than 
those not so exposed; but it is a safe rule to say that if dan- 
druff is noticed or falling of the hair, which will likely fol- 
low, then the hair should be washed. Once a fortnight, in 
ordinary cases, is probably enough for decency; but once a 
week never hurts one, if the shampoo is properly given. 

Hair ISTeeds Little Grease. 

Often the hair needs no oil, as the natural supply is suffi- 
cient. It has been amply proven by tests that compounds 
embracing gelatine, nucleo-proteids and glycerine, when their 
strength is carefully adapted to the needs of the user, promote 
hair growth more than do all the stimulants and greasy com- 
pounds known. 

If one cannot afford the products of the laboratory one 
may wash the head weekly, with a strong solution of gelatine 
and egg white. It may be also used as a lotion daily, if 
freshly made. 

To Increase Grow^th op Eyebrows. 

Sweet oil or melted vaseline applied vsdth a camel's hair 
brush will darken and increase the growth of the eyebrows. 
The stroke of the brush should follow the direction of the 
brows. 



HOTISEKEEPEES AND OTHERS 147 

Caee of the Skin. 

Half the facial blemislies to which womankind is heir are 
due to the clogging of the pores, by means of particles of 
dust, accumulated when traveling in cars, and journeying 
through dusty streets. These poison the skin and produce 
blemishes. 

Pure soap and soft water are a woman's good friends for 
beauty^s sake, and must be employed first and foremost. The 
indiscriminate dabbing on of creams or lotions is worse than 
useless unless cleanliness is observed first. 

Blackheads. 

Blackheads are exterminated with patience, and during the 
process, benzoin should be employed as an astringent to close 
the pores, while it is necessary to open them. The skin must 
be treated (for blackheads) to a thorough scrubbing with 
warm, soapy water on retiring and a cloth, dipped in hot water, 
should be held to the face. This answers the same purpose 
as steaming and is easier for the average woman to employ. 

To obviate any soreness after treatment, and to give tone 
to the skin, rinse with cool water, then sponge with cold water, 
to which has been added one teaspoonful of witch hazel and 
ten drops of spirits of camphor to each pint of water. If 
the pores are much distended touch each spot only with a 
solution of benzoin and water — one part benzoin to four of 
water — using a small camel's hair brush. 

If the skin seems parched after washing rub in a little 
good cream, and when making the morning toilet be care- 
ful to remove any remaining traces of the cream, for if left 
it will catch all fl}^g dust. Protect the face with a little 
pure face powder and wear a chiffon veil whenever possible. 



148 EMERGENCY HELPS FOB, 

After a week of this treatment, or as soon as tlie face seems 
quite free from blackheads, add fifteen drops of simple tinct- 
ure of benzoin to each pint of water and use it in the rinsing 
water, both morning and evening. 

Excessive Perspikation and Odor Under Armpits. 

Bathe underneath the arms with soda water just before 
dressing. A powder sold under the name of "Spiro" is very 
fine for this purpose. 

Prevention of Chaps. 

Chaps and roughness of the skin would never occur in the 
healthy child, if every mother made a routine practice of see- 
ing her children's hands and faces rubbed with pure lanolin, 
thinned by the addition of almond oil. This is inexpensive 
and almost a specific. Glycerine is irritating to most flesh, 
but if added to warm water, in the proportion of one to forty, 
the mixture will make an excellent emollient wash. 

Parsley Water for the Face. 

The latest cure for a thick or spotty complexion is to wash 
it with parsley water. Take half a pint of rain water and 
soak in it a large bunch of parsley, letting it remain in the 
water all night. In the morning when you dress, rub the 
face well with a dry cloth; then dip sponge in the parsley 
water, and pass the damp sponge over the face, leaving it 
on without drying it. If this is done, three times daily, 
at the end of a fortnight you will be surprised to see that there 
are no more spots or roughness on your face. 



EOTJSEKEEPERS AND OTHERS 149 

To Whiten the Finger ISTails. 

Cut a lemon in half and rub the nails with it before 
retiring. Wash with warm water the next morning. 

For Eed Hands. 

Use a little chloride of lime^ dropping a few grains into the 
water used for washing the hands. Be careful to remove 
rings, bracelets, etc., for chloride of lime will tarnish them. 

Care of Feet. 

To relieve perspiration and remove unpleasant odor from 
the feet, bathe in ammonia and water at night; change stock- 
ings often, and always when changing rub the feet dry with 
a clean towel. 

To Cure Dandruff. 

Wet the scalp only with a lotion of two ounces of witch 
hazel and eight grains of corrosive sublimate. The use of 
this lotion must be discontinued as soon as the dandruff is re- 
moved. 

Lotion for Wrinkles. 

One part cocoa butter, and two parts lanolin. Mix 
thoroughly and use twice daily. This will not fail if intel- 
ligently massaged into the face. 

The Teeth. 

Preserve the teeth by using lukewarm water and brushing 
two or three times daily. Alwaj'-s use a soft brush, some 
good disinfectant, and occasionally a good chalk. 



150 EMEEGENCY HELPS FOR 

Powder foe Excessive Peespikation on the Feet. 

In the German army, the following powder is said to be 
used for this condition: salicylic acid, two scruples; starch, 
one-half ounce; powdered talcum, two and one-half ounces. 
In mild cases a bath of alum-water, followed by the dusting 
powder given above, is sometimes effective. 

Yellow Complexion. 

A yellow- jaundiced complexion yields to the olive oil treat- 
ment. A tablespoonful of oil must be taken every morning 
before breakfast. 



HOUSEKEEPERS AND OTHERS 151 



153 EMERGENCY HELPS FOR 



HOUSEKEEPERS AND OTHERS 153 



GAS AKD OIL STOVES. 



Gas Stoves. 

If you wish to keep your kitchen free from smoke and 
smells, have a stovepipe connect with the gas range. It is 
a safety valve for the accidents which are liable to occur in 
an oven when things become spilled and burned occasionally 
in the hands of careless servants. Food left in the oven to 
char takes fire when the oven burners are turned on at full 
height. "With a pipe entering the chimney, such an accident 
as this is an impossibility. 

To Set a Gas Eange. 

Be sure to place it at a height that suits the person who is 
to do the cooking, to avoid stooping. Keep a sma]|l vegetable 
brush to scrub the burners on top of the range. If they 
seem to be choked clean each one with a wire. Quite often a 
gas company is blamed for providing poor gas when the fault 
lies with the clogging of the burners. 

Accumulation op Gas. 

There should not be of necessity an accumulation of es- 
caped gas in the roasting chambers; occasionally, however, if 
a jet has been on for a few minutes there may be gas enough 
to cause an explosion. Eemedy this by first opening the 
oven doors then if the gas does flare out no damage will be 
done to the stove. 

Another Trouble. 

If the gas flows reluctantly there is sometimes rust in the 
gas pipe underground. 



154 EMERGENCY HELPS FOR 

Lighting a Buener. 

When lighting a burner, and it pops back with a sudden 
noise, be sure there is toO' much air in the pipes. , Close the 
mixers slightly, then it will light without any noise. 

Well-Kept Stove. 

The secret of a well-kept stove is to clean it thoroughly 
once a day, never allowing it to grow so dirty that its work- 
ing powers are impeded. When through with cooking, 
draw out the sheet iron slide under the burners and treat it 
to a thorough scrubbing with hot water, and a cleansing 
preparation. This slide is a catch-all for everything that 
boils over and burns, and is an excellent contrivance for 
keeping the stove clean. 

Cooking. 

A gas stove, if well managed, cooks more perfectly and 
scientifically than a coal range, because one has perfect con- 
trol of the heat. You will soon learn to economize gas and 
time. 

Buying. 

In buying, don't buy a small gas stove; a four-hole stove, 
with a top about twenty-four inches square, is so serviceable 
that it pays whether a family be large or small. See that 
the stove bought has an attachment for lighting the oven 
from the outside, as it is much more convenient and safe 
than the old method of reaching in with a match. 

Cooks Differ, 

Cooks differ about which oven in a gas stove is best for 
roasting. Experts prefer the lower oven, for a roast beef, at 



HOUSEKEEPERS AND OTHERS 155 

least. The method of cooking in this compartment gives 
you a roast more like meat from an old-fashioned spit, than 
anything else. 

The outside is. immediately seared and the juices are kept 
inside. Light both burners for five minutes then set the 
meat on the grate, which rests in a large pan that comes 
with the stove, and put it in the lower oven. It will brown 
all over immediately. Watch that it does not scorch. Turn 
out one burner Avhen well browned and cook slowly, turning 
and basting once in ten minutes. If there is difiQculty on 
accoujit of roast being too large for oven and is liable to 
bum, sear in the lower oven and finish baking in the upper 
compartment. 

Baking Cake^ Etc. 

If there should be trouble in the oven baking too quickly 
for pies, cookies, etc., invert a roasting pan and set on a 
slide, putting the cake tins on it. 

For Convenience. 

Keep a thin sheet-iron lid hanging behind the gas stove; it 
is handy for all sorts of purposes. You will find it capital 
when a slice or two of toast is to be made. Heat it quite 
hot, then put the bread between the wires of a toaster and 
hold over it the hot lid. You will have a nice crisp brown 
slice in about two minutes. 

To Set an Oil Stove. 

First, for the convenience and comfort of the cook, set 
it so that it will be high enough to avoid stooping, taking care 
to have it perfectly level so that the oil will run into all the 
burners equally, avoiding the overflow from them if any of 
the valves are open. 



156 EMERGENCY HELPS FOB, 

Suggestion. 

The oil bowls may be easily taken off the stove by unscrew- 
ing them from the burner-pipe, and carefully wiped out. 
These becomes dirty and clogged and often at the bottom a 
black powder will form as the result of imperfect combustion, 
and allowing vegetables, soups, etc., to overflow while cook- 
ing. Therefore, in selecting one get those which are provided 
with a shield or protector over the flame and which forms 
a part of the lid. 

Drums and Strainer. 

The burner drum, which is the draught over the burner, 
may be simply lifted to clean the burner parts, and the 
strainer in the lower oil tank may be lifted out and cleaned 
in the same way. 

Kepairs. 

In ordering repairs for oil, gas or cook stoves, do not forget 
that all castings are numbered, also the number and name of 
stove is written or made in a conspicuous place. 

Smoking Burners. 

Do not be careless about turning off the valve tightly when 
done with the flame, as thereby the oil is left in the burner 
which gathers its quota of dust; and this surplus oil in the 
perforated tubes, making them damp, as a consequence causes 
the burner to smoke and smell for a few minutes until the 
tubes are burned dry. Never turn the oil on until you are 
about ready to light the stove. 

If Flame Decreases in Height. 

Should this occur while the valve is open, there may 
be some dirt in the valve; open the valve wide for a moment 



HOUSEKEEPERS AND OTHERS 157 

only, which, may wash the dirt out, or take the valve stem out 
and run a small wire through it. It may result also from 
the strainer being clogged; in such case clean strainer. 

If Oil Eaises or Uneven Streaks Appear in the Flame. 

The first trouble would be caused by a leak in the upper 
reservoir or perhaps the valve to this reservoir is not screwed 
tight. The latter may be remedied by shifting the drum from 
side to side, or cleaning the outside of the large perforated 
chimney. 

Lighting Eings. 

These serve better if rough and dirty than if thoroughly 
cleaned, unless they become so encrusted that they will not 
easily go back to place when taken out. Scrape off enough of 
their roughness to allow them to do so, but do not scrape 
their top or bottom edges. 

To Clean Pipe. 

The main pipe of the stove may be readily cleaned by 
removing the cap at the end of the pipe. There are very 
many troubles to be corrected, but very many of them need 
not be, with care and cleanliness, applying general rules as 
given. 



1^§ EMERGENCY HELPS POR 



HOUSEKEEPERS AND OTHERS 159 



160 EMERGENCY HELPS FOR 



HOUSEKEEPERS ANB OTHERS 161 



SICK EOOM AND MEDICAL ADVICE. 



For Eczema. 

Three heaping tablespoonfuls of lard, one teaspoonful car- 
bolic acid, one teaspoonful of oil of sassafras, one teaspoon- 
ful of finely scraped gum camphor, one teaspoonful com- 
pound tincture of benzoin, one teaspoonful of glycerine. Mix 
well and apply when the flesh is warm or rub in gently^ 
sitting by the fire. Wash the flesh first in good castile soap, 
mopping or wiping perfectly dry. 

EiNG "WOEM. 

Three parts of vaseline, one part of iodide of potash. 
Apply twice daily until it disappears. 

To Keep Ice Water in a Sick Eoom. 

Pill a pitcher with water and ice, surround with newspapers 
and draw them together above the top of pitcher with a 
rubber band. 

Saistitaey Hint. 

Drinking water in rooms must be kept closely corked; it 
is a reservoir for the impure emanations of men and animals. 
If set about in open vessels in a room it will absorb gases, 
etc., but is rendered entirely unfit for drinking. 

To Ventilate a Eoom. 

To ventilate a room, lower the window-sash from the top, 

and raise it the same distance from the bottom. 
11 



162 EMEEGENCY HELPS FOB, 

For Slight Constipation in Children. 

Warm castor oil nibbed well over the bowels is an eas}' 
and pleasant relief. Hot water applied to the bowels is also 
beneficial. 

Irritated Skin, 

For irritation between the folds of the neck and other 
parts of the body, mix one part pulverized hydrastis, three 
parts sub-nitrate of bismuth. Sprinkle plentifully on the 
gores at night, and in the morning your baby will bless you 
with a smile. 

Colic in Babies. 

I have never tried anything that will relieve a baby of 
colic so quickly as an injection of quite warm water and a 
warm cloth, laid over the stomach and bowels. 

' A Good Eemedy for Teething Babies. 

A cloth wning out in whiskey heated quite as hot as the 
child^ can bear it, and applied to the bowels and stomach, will 
sometimes change the character of the actions of a child 
during the teething period; is also very soothing and bene- 
ficial for cold on. the bowels. 

Bottle Babies. 

If modem mothers could only believe that all nursing bot- 
tles, tubes, rubbers, etc., have been destroyed, they would 
soon realize how easy it is to feed a child from the start, 
from a cup and with a spoon. Try it and do away with 
sterilizing bottles, washing rubbers, etc. 



HOUSEKEEPERS AND OTHERS 163 

CON-yULSIONS. 

Convulsions in. children are very alarming^ and tlie motlier, 
after having summoned a doctor;, in the interim, will 
immerse the child in warm water to the neck, made 
gradually hotter, then apply cold water to the head until the 
body relaxes. Have ready a warm blanket and wrap closely 
and as dexterously wipe with warm cloths. Keep the patient 
very warmly wrapped, applying cold to the head and warmth 
to the feet. If convulsion is caused by an overloaded stomach, 
give an emetic ; or constipation, give a hot soapsuds injection, 
which will free the bowels immediately and prevent the 
return of a convulsion. 

Croup. 

If the child is old enough to understand, raise him up 
in bed with a warm shawl around him and give him dry 
sulphur in tiny spoon doses, a little at a time, letting him 
work it as carefully as possible down the throat. In a short 
time he will begin to breathe more freely and is out of the 
frst danger. At the same time apply to the throat and 
chest, after a good rubbing with some kind of soft oil, a warm 
flannel cloth. Dry sulphur, however, as soon as it reaches 
the throat seems to act like magic. 

Group. 

"When the voice is hoarse, and beathing hard, or if you 
can anticipate it, give a dose or two of syrup of ipecac (say 
a teaspoonful) ; if the case is far advanced, give a dose of 
calomel or some good liver medicine to act on the liver and 
bowels, and repeat the ipecac every fifteen minutes until 
vomiting is produced. Keep the child perfectly warm and 
you need hardly fear any more trouble from that spell. If 



164 EMERGENCY HELPS FOB, 

the child remains hoarse the next day, which is liable to be 
the case, avoid its putting the hands in cold water or unneces- 
sary exposure. Anticipate its troubles by giving a simple 
cough syrup or ipecac, and rub the throat with some simple 

on. 

Croup. 

Apply a mustard plaster to the throat under the chin, 
made up with white of egg, to avoid blistering. This will 
often give quick relief. 

Asthma. 

Two ounces of best honey, one ounce of castor oil, mixed. 
Take a teaspoonful night and morning. I have tried this 
with best results. 

For a Cold or Paiist in the Bones. 

Drink a pint or less of strong catnip tea, made palatable 
with milk and sugar, just before going to bed. Cover with 
extra amount of covering to produce a sweat, and in the 
morning have some one rub you all over with a cloth wrung 
out of hot water. Wipe dry and put on fresh, clean under- 
clothes, dress warmly, and remain in a warm room at least a 
day. 

Chilblains. 

Apply tincture of benzoin. This is a sure remedy 

Antidote for Strychnine. 

It has been found that spirits of camphor is a sure 
specific or antidote for strychnine. 



HOUSEKEEPERS AND OTHERS 165 

For Foeeign Substances iisr the Eye, 

It seems almost incredulous, but a horse liair formed into 
a' loop and placed under the lid of the eye, and over the 
ball, then dragged or pulled through will, even after several 
days' irritation, be found effectual in removing cinders or 
any gritty substance. One or two flax seeds dropped into 
the eye will also remove any small particle from it. 

Speedy Cure for a Corn, 

Shave a strip from the end of a bar of kitchen soap, place 
on the toe, wrap with old linen and saturate with kerosene 
oil. 

Liniment. 

A liniment made of cayenne pepper and kerosene, or gum 
camphor and kerosene, is very good for general use. 

Mustard Plaster. 

To make a mild mustard plaster, mis one teaspoonful of 
strong mustard to two of lard. It will heat the part suf- 
ficiently and not blister. 

Strengthening Plaster. 

1 lb. white resin. 

4 ozs. mutton tallow. 
4 ozs. beeswax. 

2 ozs. Burgundy pitch. 
1 oz. good brandy. 

% oz. oil spike. 
% oz. sassafras oil. 
Melt in a skUlet the resin, tallow, beeswax and pitch. Mix 
in a bottle the brandy, sassafras, and spike. Have a half 



166 EMERGENCY HELPS FOB, 

tub of cold water sitting by the stove, and when the con- 
tents of the skillet are very hot, pour on those from the 
bottle and it will foam up very quickly. Pour this mixture 
on the surface of the cold water, and as soon as it can be 
handled pull like molasses candy and put away in sticks. To 
use, melt the end of the stick, rub on a rag, and apply as hot 
as can be borne. It will remove inflammation from old sores, 
and on a wound it will show its healing effect in one night. 
For lame back it is unequalled. 

Catarbh. 

A teaspoonful of warm honey taken every fifteen minutes 
has a surprising effect on catarrh. 

Sulphur for the Complexion. 

A tablespoonful of sulphur taken every other morning for 
a week, and omitting it for three days, then taken every other 
morning for a week, is one of the best things for the com- 
plexion. It acts like magic. It should always be mixed with 
molasses or something that will clear it from the system, 

Eed Flannel in Sickness. 

Eed flannel should not be fastened around the neck and on 
the chest of children, as medicines draw the coloring matter 
out, and may poison the tender skin of a child. Always 
use white flannel. 

Irish Potato for Burns. 

When one is painfully burned, bind to the part finely 
scraped raw Irish potato; keep applying it freshly until the 
fire is extracted. The potato will become dry very quickly. 



HOUSEKEEPERS AND OTHERS 167 

Poison Ivy. 

For the inflammatioii, pieces of old linen wet in baking soda 
water, or in lime water, are very soothing. Plain cream is 
perhaps as useful as any simple remedy. Strong soapsuds, 
too, will alleviate the pain. In the later sitages dry starch 
dusted over the spots is a well known remedy. The inflamma- 
tion generally subsides in a week. If you are annoyed by the 
persistent growth of the ivy in your yard a little sulphuric 
acid poured around the roots will kill it. 

Eheumatism. 

A simple panacea for rheumatism consists of an ounce 
of saltpetre, mixed thoroughly with one-half pint of sweet 
oil, and rubbed on the part affected. 

An Ounce of Peeventive. 

When the hands and feet are numb and cold never put them 
near the fire or in hot water, as this, by causing the blood 
vessels to dilate too rapidly, is the cause of chilblains. They 
may be put into tepid water, and a little hot water added 
from time to time, so as to gradually increase the tempera- 
ture; but the best plan is to warm the feet and hands by 
exercise and rubbing. 

For a Sprained Arm. 

Enough poke root washed and chopped up to make one- 
half peck, cover with water, boil down to a strong tea, strain 
and add four pods of red pepper, two tablespoonfuls kerosene 
oil, two tablespoonfuls of turpentine, two tablespoonfuls of 
salt, and one-half pound of lard. Stew down and when 
nearly cool stir in two eggs, and bottle; warm and rub the 
whole arm and wrist, and wrap up in flannel at night. 



168 EMERGENCY HEIPS EOR 

If kept up long enough will relieve. It is also a fine liniment 
for any sprains, or sore, and is well worth keeping in the 
home. 

An Old-Fashion"ed Cold Remedy. 

A good old-fashioned home remedy for cold on the lungs 
or any soreness in the chest is simply spirits of camphor and 
lard. To two tablespoonfuls of lard add three tablespoon- 
f uls of spirits of camphor and mix thoroughly ; place over the 
fire until it is melted ; then spread on a piece of fiannel. Hold 
the flannel to an open fire until it becomes quite hot, then 
lay it on the chest. If it is applied at night on going to bed, 
in almost every case by morning the soreness will be relieved. 
If applied in the daytime one should be careful not to 
expose himself to cold air or draughts. It may be changed 
and heated occasionally. This is a simple home remedy, used 
in childhood, and we have had occasion many times to prove 
its efiiciency in later years. 

To Stop a Cough. 

Oil, not essence of peppermint, if rubbed on the throat 
and chest will usually stop the most obstinate cough, and if 
applied to the nose will help a cold in the head. 

To Mend a Hot Water Bag. 

At a moment when it was urgently required, an unseen 
hole in the hot water bag was mended by crossing two strips 
of rubber plaster upon it. This was put on temporarily, but 
lasted quite a long while. 

For Poison Ivy. 

For a very severe case of poisoning and after having tried 
many things suggested by friends, I accidentally found that 



HOUSEKEEPERS AND OTHERS 169 

dioxygen was a perfect remedy. Bind the place with linen 
saturated with the dioxygen. Instead of breaking and spread- 
ing in their usual fashion, the pustules turned white, and 
dried up in less than four days. 

Celery for Rheumatism. 

Rheumatism is impossible, it is said, if the vegetable be 
cooked and freely eaten. Either stewed in salt and water, 
drinking the water, or stewed in milk and butter, thickened 
and eaten on toast. The value of the plant lies in the apiol, 
01 parsley camphor, it contains. This dilates the blood 
vessels and has few equals as a diaphoretic and diuretic. 
Any thing that produces a profuse perspiration is good for 
the rheumatic patient. All the world knows that celery is 
the best absorbent a drinking man can take, and its action 
on the kidneys and viscera is most healthful. 

To Extract a Splinter. 

If a wide-mouthed bottle is nearly filled with hot water, and 
the injured part held over the mouth and pressed quite 
tightly, the suction mil draw the flesh down and the splinter 
out without pain. 

Foreign Substance in the Kose. 

If a foreign body has become lodged in the nose, pressing 
the ball of the thumb against the nose above the object, pass- 
ing a loop of smooth fine wire along the middle inside wall 
until it passes beyond the object, then slowly drawing down- 
ward, following with the thumb on the outside, will generally 
be effective if done before impaction or swelling takes 
place. 



170 EMERGENCY HELPS EOR 

The Ear. 

If an insect gets into the ear a piece of cotton "wool, 
saturated with a strong solution of salt or vinegar, inserted 
into the ear, usually kills the insect, and it comes out with 
the plug of cotton, 'If it is still living, drawing the ear 
upward and backward, thus straightening the canal, gives 
it a better opportunity to escape, which it is always anxious 
to do. A foreign body in the ear, if it can be seen, vascy 
be removed with a wire loop, but great care must be taken to 
avoid its being pushed through the drum head into the 
middle ear, causing inflammation and possibly death. Holding 
the head over, so that the water may easily run out, the ear 
well syringed with a very gentle flow of water and carefully 
d:irected toward the bottom of the canal will often prove effi- 
cacious. 

Olive Oil as a Medicin'b, 

A mother writes that she gives each of her children a large 
tablespoonful of the best olive oil at the end of their noon 
dinner and believes that it has improved their health to a 
marked degree. They were pale and thin and subject to 
colds ; this, recommended by a specialist in children's diseases, 
has made of then plump, rosy and healthy children, 
apparently proof against taking cold, 

A Taper for the Sick Eoom. 

During the illness of a member of my family, I learned 
that by putting finely powdered salt around the wick and 
on the candle up to the black part of the wick will give a 
subdued light, one that will burn evenly and slowly. 



housekeepers and others 171 

For Insomnia. 

Sufferers from insomonia should try cayenne pepper sand- 
wiches. Cut a thin slice of bread, butter it generously, and 
cover it over with another slice of bread. It is surprising what 
little inconvenience will be experienced, merely a slight smart- 
ing sensation in the mouth, which is soon over. The sandwich 
should be eaten just before retiring, and soon after the sufferer 
will be asleep. The pepper acts as a stimulant to the stomach, 
drawing the blood from the excited brain. The sandwich is 
much less harmful than drugs, and pepper when taken in 
small quantities is a good tonic for a weak stomach. Bilious 
headache has also been known to yield to a cup of hot water, 
to which has been added a generous pinch of cayenne pepper 
and a nip of soda as big as a pea. 

To Cure Indigestion. 

Grlycerine will cure indigestion. This is a very simple 
and inexpensive remedy. Mix a teaspoonful of glycerine 
with a wineglassful of water and take it with, or directly 
after, meals, until the enemy is ousted; which in an ordinary 
case will be a few days, and in an obstinate case about a 
fortnight. Eepeat if it manifests itself again. 

A Medicinal Bath. 

This is the prescription of an old physician for the ner- 
vously worn, and those who suffer from insomnia. Take 
of sea salt four ounces, spirits of ammonia two ounces, spirits 
of camphor two ounces, of pure alcohol eight ounces, and 
sufficient hot water to make a quart of the liquid. Dissolve 
the sea salt in hot water and let it stand until cool. Pour 
into the alcohol the ammonia and camphor; add the salt 
water, shake well and bottle for use. Apply with a soft 



172 EMERGENCY HELPS FOR 

sponge, clipped in this mixture. Wet over the whole surface 
of the body and rub vigorously until the skin glows. When 
nervous, "blue" or wakeful, do not omit this bath. The rest 
and refreshing that follows will amply repay the efEort 
required to prepare it. 

An" Invaluable Eemedy foe Sore Eyes. 

Boracic acid powder dissolved in warm water will be found 
very effectual for the cure of sore eyes. When cold, bathe the 
eyes three or four times a day. Boracic ointment is a sure 
cure for gathered fingers and affections of this kind. 

Water Drinking. 

Too much stress can not be laid upon water drinking. 
Copious draughts are required by the system, not only to 
assimulate with the food but to flush the stomach, bowels and 
kidneys, in order that they may be able better to perform 
their work. Water, in order to have the most wholesome 
effect, shauld be taken on an empty stomach, otherwise the 
gastric fluid will be so diluted that it cannot perform its 
functions. Half an hour or an hour before breakfast, midway 
of meals, and on retiring, are the most approved times. 

There are estimates as to the quantity of water to be taken 
during a day, but if two quarts or more, it will suffice to keep 
the system in good condition, provided these rules are rigidly 
adhered to. 

Parents should instill into their children the danger of 
taking sudden draughts of ice water when over-heated or 
after a full meal. 

Abstinence. 

A person whose general health is good can cure any slight 
derangement of the stomach by total abstinence; and it is 
much better to refrain from food than to take medicine. 



hotisekeepers and others 173 

Childrek Should Sleep in the Dark. 

Bring up cliildren to sleep in the dark, as it is much 
better for their eyes, the complete darkness being an entire 
rest. Use dark shades in the nursery, and never place a 
child's bed opposite the glare of a window, as a bright light 
falling upon the eyes in sleep is very injurious to the sight. 

To Eelieve Headache. " 

A headache is often relieved by bathing behind the ears 
with right hot water. 

White-Footed Hose. 

A physician urges that the wearing of stockings with 
white feet will do more to promote ease in walking and relieve 
foot ills than anything to be suggested. Socks and stock- 
ings of lisle thread or cotton in black bind the feet and make 
them swell, he says, no matter how fine and open they may be. 
The hard twist of lisle thread is especially torturing to ten- 
der feet. A further caution is added that new cotton hose, 
as well as new cotton undergarments, should be washed before 
worn, to wash out the sizing used by manufacturers. 

Whiskey for a Boil. 

Keep a cloth saturated with whiskey upon a boil, and it 
will "head" in from two to three hours. 

Ant Obstruction in the Throat. 

Any obstruction in the throat may be removed by the swal- 
lowing of the white (whole) of an egg. It will have the 
effect of "gagging/' and the effect made will very often, if 
not always, dislodge it. 



174 EMERGENCY HELPS EOB, 

When Choking, 

If you are choked and cannot get relief, get down on all 
fours and cough until you remove the impediment. Lovey 
Marjr's plan of holding the child upside down, and shaking 
him, is perhaps the best plan Icnown for relieving a choking 
baby. 

Save Your Watermelon Seed. 

In the summer time when they are plentiful, save water- 
melon seed, for medicinal purposes. There is no other home 
remedy so good for affected kidneys as watermelon seed tea. 
Use a handful of watermelon seed to the pint of water; let 
it steep well. Dose : one-half teacupful taken at intervals as 
desired. During a long siege of mumps, I found nothing 
equalled this for giving the patient relief. It is mild and 
eflficacious, may be given to a baby in small doses. This has 
been tried in nearly a dozen cases of mumps. 

Lemon and Coffee. 

A teaspoonful of lemon juice in a small cup of black coffee 
will drive away an attack of bilious headache. It is better, 
however, to use lemons freely and so avoid the cause. 

For Sudden Deafness. 

Dissolve a tablespoonful of cooking soda in one-half teacup 
of boiling water. 

Every morning, for a week or two, take one-half teaspoon- 
ful of this, suitably wanu, into it drop five drops of pure 
glycerine and pour into the ear and hold the head over until 
none runs out. At the end of a week or more syringe the 
ear thoroughly with warm water. This has been successfully 
tested several times. 



HOUSEKEEPERS AND OTHERS 175 

When Bathing the Sick. 

Add a small quantity of alcohol or bay rum to the water, 
to produce refreshing sleep. 

Sick Headache. 

Eelief may often be obtained when suffering with sick head- 
ache by holding the head over a basin and pouring a stream 
of cold water on the back of the neck. 

To Relieve Heartbuen. 

Add a teaspoonful of lemon juice to half a glassful of cold 
water, in which has been dissolved half a teaspoonful of car- 
bonate of soda, and drink immediately. 

A Tested Corn Cure. 

Take a lemon, cut off a slice about one-fourth of an inch 
thick, bind this firmly to the toe, over the corn, upon retiring. 
In the morning remove the lemon and you will be surprised 
to find it white and all the soreness gone. Apply as directed 
for three or four nights, and at the end of the third or fourth 
morning you can remove the com without any pain whatever. 

For Chapped Hands. 

Pour fourteen ounces of hot, soft water over one drachm 
of gum tragacanth. Let stand until all dissolved, which will 
take about twenty-four hours. Then add two ounces of 
glycerine, two ounces of alcohol and a few drops of rose 
water. Keep in a wide-mouthed bottle. 

Cure for a Cold. 

It may not be generally known that one teaspoonful of aro- 
matic spirits of ammonia in two-thirds of a glass of cold 



li^Q EMERGENCY HELPS FOR 

water, taken in doses of one teaspoonful every fifteen minutes, 
or half-hour, according to the severity of the case, will relieve 
any ordinary cold, if taken in the early stages. 

Remedy for Corns. 

One drachm of salicylic acid, eight grains of extract Canna- 
bis Indica, one ounce collodion. Mix, and apply with a soft 
brush two or three times a week. 

Excellent Eemedt for jIi^Teuralgia. 

jMix equal parts of sweet oil, spirits of hartshorn, and 
chloroform. Shake well, and before the particles have time 
to separate, wet absorbent cotton and place upon the region 
of severest pain, for about a minute, unless relieved sooner. 
Hold a handkerchief over the cotton to confine the fumes. Do 
not keep on too long, as it will blister. 

Hay Fever. 

One ounce of iodide of potassium, one drachm of Fowler's 
solution, six ounces of distilled water, mix. Dose, one tea- 
spoonful every four or six hours. 

Bleeding from a Wound. 

Bleeding in man or beast may be stopped by a mixture of 
equal parts of wheat flour and common salt. It may be left 
on as long as the case demands. 

Excellent for Sprains. 

If possible, immediately after being sprained, before swell- 
ing takes place, bind the part rapidly with adhesive plaster. 
This was the experience of a physician whose cooJc had the 
misfortune to fall while he was a looker-on. She was ready 



HOUSEKEEPERS AND OTHERS 177 

immediately afterwards to take her place without pain in 
the household. 

Eemedy for Sprains. 

Immediately after sprain, or as soon as possible, immerse the 
part in warm water, made gradually as hot as can be borne. 
Drop in the water carbolic acid, until the water has a decided 
carbolic taste, not enough of course to burn the skin. This 
v/ill help greatly in taking out the inflammation or bruised 
blood. Now, wring a towel out of very hot water and con- 
tinue this until the patient is relieved. This treatment is 
tedious but will pay in the end. It is said that a sprain lasts 
six weeks, but with heroic and timely treatment directly after 
the injury has been received it may be averted. 

Efficacy of Salt. 

A pinch of it on the tongue, followed ten minutes after a 
drink of cold water, will often cure a sick headache. It clean- 
ses the palate and furred tongue, and is good as a gargle. Used 
dry as a snuff, it will do much to relieve colds, hay fever, etc. 
Hemorrhages from tooth pulling can be stopped by rinsing 
and holding in the mouth a solution of warm water and salt. 

Chilblains, 

Eub the affected parts with turpentine, just before retiring. 
Eepeat every night until the cure is effected. 

Cure for Eun-Around. 

Mutton tallow and white chalk, blended together and bound 
on the finger, is a sure cure for "run-around." The same 
is also applicable to a felon if used when first started. 

12 



178 EMERGENCY HELPS FOE, 

Inflammation in the Flesh. 

Immediately after receiving a mash, cut, or any injury 
of a similar character, immerse the part in hot water to 
which a little carbolic acid has been added. In cases of 
threatened blood-poison, it is very fine. Hold the part under 
the hot water until the pain ceases. Carbolic acid must be 
used intelligently, the burn from a single drop is very pain- 
ful. The antidote is given elsewhere in this book. 

A Cure for Burns. 

Turpentine and gum camphor— all the gum that the tur- 
pentine will absorb — applied to a burn, will take out the fire 
and heal it up, no matter how bad the burn, and will not 
leave a scar. 

Carbolic Acid. 

When suffering with sore mouth, after drawing a tooth, 
or with sore mouth from disordered stomach, or a blow 
against the mouth, causing it to be cut or injured on the 
inside, appeal immediately to the bottle of carbolic acid, drop- 
ping a little in water until it has a faint, "biting" taste. Einse 
the mouth often and all places will heal very quickly. It does 
not sting as one would suppose, and the taste is not unpleas- 
ant, and can be used with great effect. Keep the bottle of 
strong acid from children or careless persons. 

To Cleanse the Air op a Sick Eoom. 

Put a lump of gum camphor in a saucer and apply a 
hot poker to it. This will cause a strong fume which will 
not only cleanse the air but act as a powerful disinfectant. 

Soars. 

Scars which are not very deep may be removed by the daily 
I'ubbing of cocoa butter. 



HOUSEKEEPERS AND OTHERS 179 

EiNG Worm. 

Dilute one part sulphuric acid to twenty of water, apply 
with a feather, only on the part affected. 

Waets. 

Warts may be removed by applying daily a drop of muri- 
atic acid; apply with a toothpick, taking care not to touch 
the surrounding cuticle. 

Chilblains. 

Chilblains are relieved by painting with collodion. 

For Inflamed Eyes. 

An eye wash well recommended is composed of one ounce 
of distilled water, one-half ounce of camphor water, five 
grains of boric acid. This is said to be especially fine for 
inflamed lids. 

To Keep a Eoom Cool. 

A simple and good way to keep a sick room cool in extreme 
weather, is to dip towels in cold water and, after wringing 
them well, darken the blinds and hang the towels in the win- 
dow. The room will cool off quickly. 

Soft Corns. 

Soft corns are generally caused by friction and moisture 
between the toes, making the flesh appear as though scalded. 
Put between the toes something to take out the soreness and 
while wearing the shoe always separate the toes by a piece 
of tissue paper. 



180 emergency helps for 

"Texas Cuee'" foe Eattlesnake Bite. 

This need not be confined to "Texas" as a remedy, and 
it would be worth trying anywhere that necessity calls for 
it. Take a pan or bowl and pour into it enough kerosene 
oil so that the bite or wound will be submerged. It will 
draw the poison out immediately, making the kerosene in 
the bowl turn perfectly green. Throw this away and refill 
until the kerosene no longer changes color, then put on a 
poultice of plain table salt, saturated with kerosene oil. Keep 
on an hour or more and all danger will be past. This must 
be done immediately after the bite, before the poison has 
had time to thoroughly enter the circulation. 

To Make "Waets Disappeae. 

To make warts disappear, apply a paste made of strong 
vinegar and gunpowder. Two or three applications is gen- 
erally sufficient. 

Fevee Blisters. 

A fever blister will disappear almost like magic if touched 
with sweet spirits of nitre. 

Constipation. 

A teaspoonful of pure cream taken every night has been 
foimd helpful by some troubled with constipation. 

Foe Summer Complaint. 

A splendid remedy for the disease is the common mullin 
leaf boiled in new milk, and sweetened to taste. 

A Scald. 

Dust a scald with boracic acid and it will prove very cooling 
in effect. 



HOUSEKEEPERS AND OTHEHS 181 

Too Much Fkuit, 

If too much fruit has been eaten in hot weather, take 
five drops of cinnamon oil in a teaspoonful of water. The 
relief will be instant. 

Foe The Sick Eoom. 

The best covers for glasses or tumblers in the sick room are 
rounds of card board. They are inexpensive, noiseless, clean, 
and can be easily replaced. 

Hives. 

This disease is caused by poor digestion. Take a table- 
spoonful of sulphur and a teaspoonful of cream of tar- 
tar, mix into a cupful of molasses. Dose: one teaspoonful 
taken every morning one-half hour before breakfast, as 
long as this quantity lasts. Drink plenty of cold water 
between meals. 

Lemons as Eemedies. 

Gargle a bad sore throat with a strong solution of lemon 
juice and water. The juice of half a lemon in a cup of 
black coffee without sugar will cure sick headache. 

A strong unsweetened lemonade taken before breakfast 
will often prevent and cure a bilious attack. 

Lemon juice added to milk until it curds, then bound 
upon parts swollen from rheumatism, will bring relief. 

Lemon juice mixed very thick with sugar will relieve a 
tickling cough that is so annoying. 

A hot lemonade taken before going to bed will cure a cold 
on the lungs. A cloth saturated with lemon juice and bound 
upon a cut, or wound, will stop its bleeding. 



132 emergency helps for 

Ginger Plasters. 

Plasters made of ginger, and made like mustard plasters, 
produce the same results and do not blister. 

Piles. 

Mix equal parts of sulphur, cream of tartar and granu- 
lated sugar — ^two teaspoonfuls of each. For three evenings 
take a teaspoonful of this. Wait three evenings, take a tea- 
spoonful two evenings. Wait two evenings and take a tea- 
spoonful the next evening. This completes the course. If 
not removed, it may be tried again. 

The Danger of Eusty Nails. 

The danger of runniag a rustj'^ nail into the foot or hand 
consists in the fact that a rusty nail is never clean. The 
wound caused looks slight, but is usually deep ; and if inflicted 
about streets or stable yards, where the tetanus or lockjaw 
germs love best to lurk, the danger to be feared is the onset 
of this dread disease. Although five times out of six no 
further trouble need be feared, the sixth time is quite suffi- 
ciently terrible to make any one careful. 

For GrALL Stones. 

A simple and harmless one and one which I know to be 
good. Warm and drink a half -cupful of pure olive oil. It is 
not unpalatable and will have a far-reaching effect. Be 
sure that it is pure olive oil and not cotton seed oil, which 
comes up in the throat after being swallowed, and is so much 
sold for salads. 

Colic. 

Eaw linseed oil will cure any colic. Take as directed for 
castor oil. Will cure grip, and for weak lungs it is a specific. 



HOUSEKEEPERS AND OTHERS 183 

CHRGisrio Constipation. 

Eub bowels witli a mixture of three parts castor oil to one 
of turpentine. 

To Fumigate a Sick Eoom. 

Wihere there are no health officers to attend to the process 
of fumigation, the following rules are enjoined : After thor- 
ough disinfection of convalescents and attendants, allow no 
piece of furniture, etc., to be removed from the room, but 
strew the articles around so that the fumes of the disinfectanx 
may best penetrate them; in the center of the room, place 
a tub with some water in the bottom, then a few bricks upon 
which to set a pan containing sulphur. For every thousand 
cubic feet of air space about three pounds of rolled sulphur 
will be required. Pour a little alcohol over this and apply 
a live coal. Leave the room quickly, close the door and 
seal it as you did the windows. The room should not bs 
opened until eight hours after burning has ceased; and when 
entering for the first time aiterward hold a wet cloth over 
the nose and mouth and open the nearest window as quickly 
as possible. When used in such quantities as that the fumes 
would be dangerous to life, it must be arranged to open the 
window from the outside. The room must be thoroughly 
aired for several days. Diphtheria germs linger for a long 
time after in the throat of the convalescent, and as they 
may lodge in the throat of the healthy nurse, it is obvious 
that kissing should not be indulged in by the occupants for 
months. The patient should be prohibited from any undue 
exertion, as it is claimed that for many weeks after, heart 
paralysis is even more liable, later on than in the initial ill- 
ness. No case of sore throat should be neglected, particularly 
in the case of children, for early treatment may do much 



184 EMERGENCY HELPS FOR 

toward modifying what might be a serious disease. One of 
the most healthful deodorizers is burnt sugar. Sprinkle 
sugar on a shovel of live coals and leave in the sick room for 
a few minutes. 

BUENS. 

For burns, equal parts of limewater and linseed oil, with 
a few drops of carbolic acid. All air must be excluded. 
Do not dress a bum too often. 

Sore Throat. 

Muriatic tincture of iron is a sure remedy for ulcerated 
sore throat. If very severe dilute with water and glycerine, 
and use as a swab. Dilute again as a gargle. 

Mushroom Poisoisr. 

Pulverized charcoal is a specific against mushroom poison; 
mix a large quantity with water, and give at the rate of a tea- 
spoonful every minute or more until painful symptoms dis- 
appear. 

Eemedy for Toothache. 

Saturate a piece of cotton wool in boiling vinegar and 
rub the gmn around the aching tooth with it. Pill the 
cavity in the tooth with wool. If the pain does not cease 
within five minutes, make another application. 

Headache. 

Much relief is often experienced from rubbing the scalp , 
which draws the blood from the brain to the surface. 

To Prevent Bedsores. 

Wash the patient's back and heels every day, and rub on 
with the palm of the hand a little alcohol. I have known 



HOUSEKEEPEES AND OTHERS 185 

people to keep their bed for years, and by thus using the 
alcohol, bedsores have never troubled them. 

For Eczema. 

If your child is troubled with eczema, always add a little 
oatmeal to the water in which you wash the affected parts, 
and never use a cheap soap. Cheap soaps contain soda and 
potash, and these make the spots irritable and cause them to 
spread. 

Earache. 

A little black pepper sprinkled on a small piece of antiseptic 
cotton, the cotton drawn up around the pepper, dipped into 
warm, oil, and inserted in the ear, is a quick relief when suf- 
fering from earache. 



186 EMERGENCY HELPS FOR 



HOUSEKEEPERS AND OTHERS 187 



188 EMERGENCY HELPS FOR 



HOUSEKEEPERS AND OTHERS 189 



HEALTH HIKTS. 



Crossing the Limbs. 

"Women who sit with their legs crossed, to sew or read 
or hold the baby, are not aware that they are inviting serious 
physical ailments, but it is true. When a man crosses his 
legs he places the ankle of one limb across the knee of the 
other, and rests it lightly there. A woman, more modest and 
restricted in her movements, rests the entire weight of one 
limb on the upper part of the other, and this pressure on 
the" sensative nerves and cords, if indulged in for continued 
lengths of time, as is often done by ladies who sew or 
embroider, will produce disease. Sciatica, neuralgia, and 
other serious troubles often arise from this simple cause. 

Children and Pet Cats. 

Never allow your children to sleep with a pet cat. The 
intimacy very often is so close between a child and a cat, as to 
give it diseases. The contagion is brought from one house 
to another, especially true of diphtheria. 

To Produce Flesh. 

To assist in growing flesh take a light luncheon before 
going to bed. An empty stomach will feed on the flesh 
during the night. 



190 * EMERGENCY HELPS TOIl 

Eruptions on the Skin. 

Although lotions and creams improve a poor complexion, 
an eruptive skin means internal trouble, and until that 
is remedied the lotion will be of little effect. 

Sound Sleep and Cold Water. 

Wlien one is working hard, it pays to take five minutes 
to lie flat on the floor, close the eyes and relax every muscle, 
and forget all cares. Most beds are too soft for deep, dream- 
less sleep. Take the springs off and sleep on your back with- 
out a pillow. If you must sleep on your side, use a pillow, 
but train yourself to push it aside and lie on your back as 
soon as possible. I know how hard beds feel after one has 
been used to feathers and springs, but make up your mind 
to it and you will soon find the benefit of refreshing sleep. 
A warm bath before retiring and a cold bath on rising will 
insure one against taking cold, and also sweeten the temper. 

To Withstand Summer Heat. 

Take a cold bath and wet the top of the head. There is 
nothing like cold water inside and out for pimples, and 
poor circulation and "that tired feeling;" but do not drink 
cold water at meals. 

Boys Smoking. 

Try by every means in your power to prevent your boy 
from smoking, until he is grown at least. Whatever differ- 
ence of opinion there may be upon the advisability of 
smoking for men, there is none as to its pernicious effect 
upon boys. It affects the action of the heart and reduces the 
capacity of the lungs. 



HOUSEKEEPERS AND OTHERS 191 

Young men who are being trained for athletics are not 
permitted to smoke, as they say "it is bad for the wind/' 
Smoking stunts the growth, decreases the weight. Cigarettes 
are especially injurious. Nicotine, the active principle of 
tobacco, is said by chemists to be, next to prussic acid, the 
most rapidly fatal poison known. The tender tissues of a 
growing boy cannot absorb even a very small quantity of it 
without the most injurious results. 

The Use of Coffee. 

Coffee is not harmful when rightfully used — that is, with- 
out milk or cream. It is a valuable agent in assisting in 
the digestion of food, and aids the blood in taking up more 
nourishment than it otherwise would. It quickens circu- 
lation and respiration, it stimulates and refreshes. It is a 
sovereign remedy in tiding over nervousness, in cases of 
emergency; as a stimulant and choleric generator in cold 
weather it is one hundred per cent, better than spirituous 
liquors. Coffee is a non-reactive stimulant. As a brain 
istimulant it may be termed an intellectual drink. Cocoa is 
food and so is chocolate. 

Sleep for Grow^ing Children. 

Growing children need plenty of sleep; the best rule is to 
let them sleep until they wake naturally. 

Deep Breathing. 

The best remedy for poor circulation is deep breathing. 
This strengthens and exhilarates all the organs of the body. 
Poor circulation, unless from heart trouble, can, in most 
cases, be cured in this way. 



192 EMERGENCY HELPS FOR 

Bathing. 

Long baths are injurious to the health. Begin the day 
with a cold bath, and a good drink of either cold or hot 
water. The bath will act as a tonic to the whole body and 
the drink will do much toward properly preparing the stomach 
for the reception of food. In exceedingly warm weather 
a warm bath is more penmanently refreshing than a cold 
one, as it draws the blood to the surface, making the skin 
cool and moist, whereas a cold bath induces rapid circulation, 
causing heat. An afternoon bath, followed by a fifteen 
minutes^ rest, lying at full length on a couch (with the eyes 
closed) in a darkened room, whether you sleep or not, will 
be of inestimable value to the woman who wishes to keep in 
good health and cheerful spirits. 

Nervous Women. 

Nervous women should not talk too much. Excessive and 
enthusiastic talking wastes vitality. 

Dotted Veils. 

If you value your eyesight, do not wear dotted veils. 

Sunshine. 

Do not fear the sunshine if you wish to keep young. The 
most beautiful things of life do not grow in the darkness. 

Feeding Infants. 

More infants' lives are taken by overfeeding than by 
starvation. Never liken an infant's digestion or diet to your 
own. 



HOUSEKEEPERS ANB OTHEHS 193 

Cheerfulness. 

Cheerfulness is a habit, Just as much as worrying — only 
it is a good deal pleasanter for yourself and everybody else. 
Get the habit, then, and the first thing you know tKe 
worries will have taken flight. They cannot stand sunshine. 
In a cheerful atmosphere they find themselves so distinctly 
"out of it" that they prefer to make themselves scarce. 
Therefore, be cheerful It may cost you something at first, 
but it will pay in the end. 

Oranges for Health. 

Oranges are a most valuable fruit. Orange juice allays 
thirst, and with few exceptions is well borne by the weakest 
stomachs. It is also a laxative, and if taken at night or 
before breakfast it will be found most beneficial. 

Pineapple. 

Pineapple possesses valuable antiseptic properties. It is 
most useful in throat diseases. WTiere the digestion is not 
good, use the juice. 

Apples for Health. 

The apple, perhaps, is not so valuable on account of its 
nourishing qualities, but it certainly cannot be surpassed as 
a tonic and stimulant to digestion and as a refreshment. The 
apple contains sugar, albuminous substance, and acids; the 
sugar helps in the accumulation of fat. The system requires 
acids that are very beneficial to the body and we undoubtedly 
get them from the apple, the albuminous part being the 
nourishing part. Although it contains a very small amount 
of nourishment, it adds to the bulk of food which is necessary 
to proper digestion. Cooking renders the apple very easy 

13 



194 EMERGENCY HELPS FOR 

of digestion and how quickly we appeal to it in convales- 
cence! Chronic constipation may be often overcome if one 
eats an apple at night, a half-hour before retiring. Get into 
the habit of eating apples at least once a day and as a 
result, improved health and general good feeling will fol- 
low. The apple acts as a cleanser of the system and a 
nourishment for the brain. 

Poods Which Causj!; Headache, 

Constipation, one of the most fruitful sources of headache, 
if- due principally to soft breads, soft foods, such as cereals, 
mushes, etc., and a lack of raw green vegetables, fruits and 
olive oil, or other uncooked fats, as butter and cream or 
fatty nuts. Avoid sweets: coming as they do at the end of 
a meal, thej'' generate an excess of organic acids and cause 
"sour stomach," and flatulency. The custom of eating two 
nitrogenous courses at the same meal, as fish and meat, is 
wrong. Fish or meat would be better. You are less liable 
io over-eat. The heavy course dinners of the rich soon make 
poor jaded stomachs. Errors in diet and over-eating cause 
more than half the diseases of our modern life. Those sub- 
ject to headaches from sluggish liver or constipation should 
eat but two meals a day. An abimdance of clear cold (not 
ice) water, followed by a fast of three or four hours, will in 
a short time cure most persons of "biliousness," The remain- 
ing two meals must of course be consistent, and composed 
of well-made, clear soups, boiled, baked, roasted, stewed beef, 
mutton, chicken and an occasional bit of fish, a small amount 
of starchy foods, always a green vegetable, one raw if possi- 
ble, or some raw fruits. No liquids should be taken with 
the meals, except a glass of water at the close. 



HOUSEKEEPERS AND OTHERS 195 



196 EMERGEITCY HELPS FOE 



HOUSEKEEPERS AND OTHERS 197 



CANDY MAKING. 



Geneeal Directions for Candy-Making. 

The making of delicious candies according to tlie methods 
of practical confectioners will not only aSord an agreeable 
pastime, but will prore of lasting benefit, especially to the 
younger members of the family; for candy prepared at 
home may be counted upon as pure and wholesome, and 
with a little experience, ma}'^ be made to look Just as tempt- 
ing. No more skill is needed, however, to make a pan of 
dainty caramels than to mix and properly bake a delicate 
cake, and no more judgment is required than is used by the 
housewife in deciding the exact moment for removing a pan 
of jelly from the fire. Any woman who is anxious to succeed, 
and who will follow carefully and intelligently the general 
directions for candy-making, may be sure of producing good 
results. 

Materials. 

The confectioner generally uses sugar prepared especially 
for his business, but the amateur will get good results by 
using the best granulated or loaf sugar, for such candies as 
are made over the fire. In. making candies that require no 
cooking, XXX confectioner's sugar must be used, and can 
be bought at any large candy or grocery store. The sugar 
is as soft and finely powdered as flour, while the ordinary 
powdered sugar will disclose a slight grain, if rubbed between 
the finger and thumb, which makes it unsuitable for ^"un- 
cooked" candy. For dark nut candies, caramels, taffy or 
molasses candy that is to be pulled, the best brown and 
yellow sugars should be used. 



]^98 emergency helps for 

Glucose. 

This substance is used by professional candy-makers to 
prevent candy from graining. It sometimes gives a bitter 
taste and to many people is very objectionable and easily 
detected, though is not as injurious as is generally supposed. 

This "graining" quality in sugar may be prevented also 
by boiling the sugar in a kettle with a top, so that the steam 
will wash any granules that may accumulate on the sides. 
If this is not done, a little mop made by wrapping a small 
stick with soft cotton, dipped in warm water, and frequently 
wiped around the sides to dissolve the granules, is effective. 
Cream of tartar is also a very useful agent and in many 
candies necessary for this purpose. 

Boiling. 

The most delicate part of candy-making is the boiling of 
the sugar. One degree, either way, will spoil the whole 
mass. Most candies must be made in clear weather, as 
sugar is very much affected by the atmosphere. Ther- 
mometers are generally used by professionals, but the amateur 
is at a disadvantage with recipes in which degrees only are 
given. 

For. example, take three pounds of granulated sugar and 
one pint of clear water, always using perfectly clean copper, 
tin, granite-ware porcelain-lined pan or kettle. Stir the 
sugar and water until thoroughly dissolved and it commences 
to boil ; after the boiling begins do not stir, or the syrup will 
be apt to grain; that is, the tendency of sugar, when the 
water which holds it in solution is evaporated (or ceases to 
appear as steam), is to resume its original form of crystals. 
Occasionally dip a spoon in the syrup, hold it above the 
pan, and throw a little of it upward over the pan. When 



HOUSEKEEPERS AND OTHERS 199 

it spins threads or lines like cobwebs th.e first degree or 
''thread^' has been reached. Another way of testing the 
"thread^' degree is to press a little of the syrup between the 
thumb and finger. A ring will form and a fine thread be 
drawn out which breaks at once and returns to the drop; 
for the second stage, the thread draws a little farther than 
the first. There are two "thread" stages, which are indicated 
by the thermometer at 315° and 317°. 

We then have "little pear?^ and "large pearl," and when 
tested between the finger and thumb, the sugar forms a long 
thread, but breaks ; the next degree or "large pearl" stretches 
without breaking. These first four degrees are syrups, and 
are indicated on the thermometer at 215°, 217°, 220° and 
222°. 

Next we have the crystallization stages, which are tested by 
dipping and bending a broom straw to form a loop at the 
end. If the sugar fills the loop with a film which, when 
blown, will form a bubble, we have the 'TjIow" stage or 230°. 
Dip the loop into the sugar again and if this film will blow 
off into fine threads we have the "feather" stage or 232°. 

The candy stages now follow: 

Small ball, 236°-238°. Large ball 246°-248°. These 
stages are tested by dropping a little of the syrup in cold 
water and for "small ball" the candy will form into a soft 
ball when pressed between the fingers; and at "large ball," 
when the candy cooks a few more degrees, the mass will 
form a hard ball. 

We have now come to the ninth and tenth, or "small crack," 
and "crack" stages measuring 290° and 310° on the ther- 
mometer — tested by a little dropped into water, which will 
break when cooled; a little more boiling and we have the 
"crack" stage. 



300 EMERGENCY HELPS FOB, 

The next is the caramel stage, when it assumes a yellowish 
color; great care must be taken here or it will burn. 

Sugar cooked to this stage is used for seasoning soups, 
sauces, creams, etc. 

Syrup Kept in Stock. 

Syrups may be kept in stock until needed for use. It 
is well to have in stock syrup at 34° for softening fondant 
when used for icing cakes, eclairs, etc. 

Water ices should register 18° -20° on the syrup gauge 
when ready to freeze. Sj^rup at 32° should be used for 
sweetening fruits to be frozen rather than "raw" sugar. 

To Prepake Syrup. 

To prepare syrup without a gauge the following direction^ 
will be useful : Take three and one-half cupfuls sugar and two 
and one-half cupfuls of water, stir over the fire until dis- 
solved. After it has boiled five minutes from the time it is 
actually boiling, it will register 28°, and every five minutes 
additional boiling it will thicken one degree. 

At the end of 15 minutes, it is 30° ; at the end of 25 
minutes, it is 32° ; at the end of 35 minutes, it is 34°. 

Kever put sugar over a slow fire to cook, as the water will 
slowly evaporate before the required degrees are obtained. 

Colorings for Candy. 

The idea prevails that the coloring used in candy is poison- 
ous, or at least unwholesome, but the reader will see that the 
formulas here given, and which are used by the best con- 
fectioners, call for nothing but harmless ingredients. 



HOUSEKEEPERS AND OTHERS 301 

To Make Coloring Liquids. 
For red : 

Powdered cochineal 14 oz. 
Powdered alum 14 oz. 
Powdered sal tartar %oz. 
Powdered cream tartar y2 oz. 
Mix and add six ounces of warm water, and four ounces of 
alcohol; allow the solution to stand over night, and filter for 
use. 

' Blue. — The best and most innocent substance for this pur- 
pose is soluble Prussian-blue, which may be procured from 
the druggist. Ordinarily Prussian-blue will not dissolve in 
water, unless oxalic acid (a powerful poison) is added, but 
the pure soluble Prussian-blue, which is a preparation of iron, 
and perfectly harmxless, may be added to water, to make any 
depth of color desired. One drachm of the powder to two 
ounces of water will be found sufficient. 

Yellow. — To one ounce of saffron, add two ounces each of 
alcohol and water, and allow it to stand several days. This 
forms a deep orange color, and, when diluted or used in 
small quantities, will impart a beautiful yellow shade to all 
forms of sugar. 

Green. — Mix blue and yellow; vary according to the shade 
desired. 

Purple. — Blend red and blue in proportions to produce the 
required tint. 

These colorings may be mixed as an artist does paints, 
varying the colors. 



202 EMERGENCY HELPS FOR 



HOUSEKEEPERS AND OTHERS 203 



204 EMERGENCY HELPS FOR 



HOUSEKEEPERS AND OTHERS 205 



MISCELLANIES. 



For Resilveeing a Mirror. 

Wlien old looking-glasses need renewing, paint them on the 
back with the following mixture: Half an oimce of tin, 
half an ounce of lead, and three ounces of bismuth, melted 
together. When slightly cool, add three ounces of mercury, 
and apply with a hare's foot. 

To Mend Bric-a-Brac. 

Plaster of Paris and mucilage, or glue, made into a paste, 
will mend bric-a-brac. Then paint over the seams with water 
colors to match the ware. This work, if neatly done, will 
bear very close inspection. 

To Make Paste for Papering. 

Take one quart and a half of flour, mix a little water, and 
beat to a thin batter; then pour on h oiling water, which will 
be necessary to cook it. 

To Stick Papering. 

Much depends upon the sizing, and if the wall has cal- 
cimine or whitewash, that can be easily rubbed off; first 
brush or scrape it with a very hard brush. 

To make the sizing: Take one-half pound of granulated 
glue, pour on cold water until it is absorbed, then tepid 
water, to dissolve it; now, pour over it a gallon of boiling 
water; stir until thoroughly dissolved. Apply to the walls 
with a whitewash-brush. Too heavy sizing is often the cause 



206 EMERGENCY HELPS FOR 

of papering coming off, especially where it is put over another 
course of paper. 

To Clean "Walls. 

Equal parts of boiling water and strong vinegar used with 
a sponge to wash calcimined walls will cut the calcimine and 
prepare the wall for papering. 

To Remove Stoppers in Bottles. 

Make a turn around the neck with a stout string, hold the 
bottle firmly on the table with one hand, hold one end of the 
string with the other and get a friend to pull the other end. 
A little saAving will heat the mouth, or neck, of the bottle, 
sufficiently to expand it and loosen the stopper. 

Keeosene or Gasolene Blazes. 

These can be readily extinguished by milk, which is con- 
venient in almost every kitchen. While water only quickens 
the flame of gasolene and kerosene, milk immediately extin- 
guishes it, and prevents all danger. 

To Stop Shoes from Squeaking. 

Try putting a few drops of oil between the uppers and 
the soles. This will often effect a cure. 

Water Bottles and Cruets. 

Water bottles and cruets can be cleaned by putting into 
them some pieces of raw potato and soapy water. Shake 
thoroughly until the glass is clean. 

Bed-Making Made Easy. 

For heavy mattresses put two loops made of strong tape, 
or cloth, through which you can insert your hand, on each 



HOUSEKEEPERS AND OTHERS 207 

side of a mattress, and see how mucli more easily it can be 
lifted, turned or pulled to position. 

Opening a Fountain Pen. 

If your fountain pen is stuck, so that you cannot unscrew 
it, wrap a small rubber band tightly around the nozzle or 
pen part. This will give you a grip on the pen that will 
nearly always fetch it. If this does not do, try a little 
powdered rosin on the fingers. This is rough on the hands, 
but is effective. 

A Glue Hint. 

A teaspoonful of saltpetre, added to a large pot of glue, 
will prevent it from smelling badly; besides, it causes the 
glue to dry faster and harder than without it. 

To Peevent Odors in Clothing. 

Several small pieces of charcoal, laid in the folds of 
clothing, closets and wardrobes, will absorb all unpleasant 
odors. 

To Prevent Silk Unwinding on Sewing Machine. 

When silk insists upon slipping from the spool too rapidly, 
try a heavy piece of cloth or blotting paper under it. The 
result is very satisfactory. 

To Kill Grass. 

Kerosene oil poured between the cracks of rock walks will 
kill the grass. 

To Keep an Unused Teapot. 

To keep an unused teapot from getting musty, put into 
it, after being thoroughly washed and dried, a lump or two 
of sugar. 



308 EMERGENCY HELPS FOB, 

To Blow out a Candle. 

Hold it high and blow upwards. This will prevent the 
grease from scattering. 

To Keep Silvee from Tarnishing. 

A lump of camphor put in the china closet will prevent 
any silver which may be in it from tarnishing. 

Lime in the Store-Eoom. 

Place a box of lime in the room in which jams, preserves 
and fruits are stored. It will prevent mold from gathering 
on the fruit. 

A Timely Help. 

'V\niile writing, I dropped a blot of ink on my paper. 
A bright little girl called for some chloride of lime, and 
making a solution of it with water, she proceeded to put it 
on the spot. To my surprise the black spot cleared away. 

Fuel Economy. 

Push old fire ashes all into one corner of the fire box, then 
build a new fire to the top of fire box under one hole. I have 
seen cooking and ironing done this way, with great economy. 

A EusTY Screw. 

A rusty screw can be easily removed by first applying a 
very hot iron to the head for a short time, then immediately 
use the screw driver. 

Knives and Forks. 

Knives and forks that do not have solid metal handles, 
made in one piece, with the tines and blades, should never 



HOUSEKEEPERS AND OTHERS 209 

be laid in water, the handles should be washed by dipping 
quickly in cool water. 

To Keep Tobacco feom Deting. 

Put a piece of dried apple or orange peel in the jar. 

A Speig op Paesley. 

Eat a sprig of parsley after indulging in onions, and it 
will remove the unpleasant odor from the breath. 

Chamois Skin. 

I was told by an optician never to use kid or chamois skin 
to polish glasses or spectacles; use tissue paper or soft cloth. 
The chamois skin is an animal product and will make them 
smeary. 

GrEEASE THE NaIL. 

Not long since, I saw a person trying to drive a nail 
through a piece of seasoned oak, an inch and a half thick. 
This was impossible, until I suggested that he grease the 
nail. It then was driven easily and without bending. 

To Peevent Steel Knives feom Eusting. 

Dip them in a solution of one part soda, to four of water. 
Wipe dry and roll in flannel cloth. Keep in a dry place. 

Cement foe Stone. 

Mix litharge and glycerine, making a paste as thick as 
putty. It will fasten brass tops to lamps, tighten loose 
nuts, secure bolts when nuts are missing, and make joints 
of iron or wooden implements firm. Do not use the mended 
article until the cement is well hardened, which may be a 
week. 

14 



210 EMERGENCY HELPS FOR 

Stone Coating for "Wood. 

Mix forty parts of lime, fifty parts of resin, four parts of 
linseed oil, one part cupric oxide, one part sulphuric acid. 

A Cheap Water Cooler. 

Place a two-gallon stone jar in a candy bucket, which may 
be purchased of a grocer for ten cents. Pill the space between 
the bucket and jar with sawdust and cement over the top of 
sawdust. Make a wooden top for the cooler. Six pounds 
of ice and six quarts of water, put in the cooler in the 
morning, will furnish a small family with ice water for the 
day, and the cost of cooler should not exceed thirty-five cents. 

To Eenovate Whalebones, Hairpins, Etc. 

Whalebones that have done good service in an old dress 
may be pressed straight with a flat iron, and serve again. 

Hairpins of bone, celluloid or rubber that have become 
spread or missliapen may be laid in a dish of hot water, 
taken out with a hatpin, and shaped before cooling. 

Moth Destroyer. 

Sprinkle coarse salt and black pepper over the floor, sweep 
in cracks where moths infest, let it lie three days. This will 
insure their absence from the house. 

To Mend Carpets. 

Cut it by a thread, making the figures match ; make a seam 
of it on the machine. Open seams by pressing with a heavy 
flat iron, or smooth open on the floor by rubbing the foot 
along the seams. 



HOUSEKEEPERS AND OTHERS 211 

To Strengthen Glue. 

Add to it a little powdered chalk. 

To Pack Nice Muslins. 

To keep a fine white mull from yellowing when packed away, 
blue a large piece of white lawn with ordinary washing blue, 
and when perfectly dry, wrap gown in it and pack in a 
cardboard box, large enough to keep from crushing. 

To Make Oilcloth. 

If one has a faded carpet, reasonably strong, oilcloth may 
be made of it. First, stretch and tack the carpet on the 
floor of a vacant room or garret. Then with a whitewash 
brush put on two coats of paste, made with rye flour. When 
this has dried paint over twice with yellow ochre or any other 
paint color you wish, mixed with boiled linseed oil. Put 
this on with a paint brush and allow each coat to dry before 
putting on the next. Finish with a coat of warm linseed oil 
and allow it to dry thoroughly before using. 

To Eemove Wall Paper. 

Wet the paper with a whitewash brush or cloth, let it 
soak a few minutes, then scrape off with knife or a dull hoe. 

To Put out Fire in Chimney, 

Throw in the flro place a gill of salt. This applies to 
stove, furnace, etc. 

To Prevent Tumblers from Breaking. 

Set in cold water to which has been added a handful of 
salt. After boiling, set aside to cool in the same water, very 
gradually. Also applies to lamp chimneys. 



gl3 EMERGENCY HELPS FOR 

Care of Lamp Chimneys. 

Do not wash lamp chimneys, it makes them brittle. In- 
stead, hold them over a steaming tea-kettle a moment, then 
polish with a clean, soft cloth. Soot may be wiped out first 
with paper. 

To Make Mucilage. 

Take two ounces of clear gum arable, one and one-half of 
fine starch, one-half ounce of white sugar. Dissolve the 
gum arable in as much water as a laundress would use for 
the starch, add starch and sugar, then suspend a bottle in 
which the mixture has been poured over a kettle of water. 
When it becomes clear it is done, and should be as thick as 
tar, and keep so. Add a few drops of any oH. This mucil- 
age will stick paper to tia or glass, and keeps well. 

Sheepskin" Eugs. 

Clean white sheepskin rugs by scrubbing with castile soap 
and water. Dry in the sun. 

"Sticky Fly Paper," 

Turpentine is the only satisfactory medium for separating 
anything from "sticky fiy paper." 

Darning with Hair. 

A torn place in a woolen garment may be darned with 
strands of hair, using the same as thread. The hair must 

accord with the color of the garment. 

I) 
To Open Flour and Sugar Bags. 

Turn the flat side of stitch toward you. Cut on the right 
hand side at the end, not drawing the thread and cutting 
both at the same time. 



HOUSEKEEPERS AND OTHERS 313 

The Care of Rubber Goods. 

Water bags, bed-pans, S3^rmges, in fact all rubber goods, 
should be hung in the air — not closed in boxes, as they become 
hard and unfit for use. After emptying the water bag, blow 
air into it to keep the sides from sticking together. 

Glue. 

For all fish glues, vinegar is a good solvent. If glue in 
the bottle becomes too thick, thin it with vinegar rather 
than water. 

To EXTERMIlsTATE BURDOCK. 

The hardest thing to contend with in many localities is 
the burdock. It is almost impossible to dig it out. If the 
least part of a root is left in the ground it will grow, but if 
you take an axe or sharp butcher knife any time in the sum- 
mer and cut them off level to the ground, then pour on a 
teaspoonful of kerosene oil, the plant will die at once and 
never start again. 

To Remove a Tight Ring. 

Take a piece of cord or vn'apping thread and push one end 
of it under the ring. Then begin just above the ring, wind 
the cord very tightly round and round the finger clear up 
to the tip of the finger. Now take hold of the end of the 
cord that was slipped under the ring and unwind the cord. 
As the string unwinds the ring will be carried along with it 
and removed without difficulty. 

Care of Wooden Bowls. 

To prevent wooden bowls or trays from splitting, take them 
before they have been touched with water, apply boiling hoc 



214 EMERGENCY HELPS EOR 

linseed oil over the outside and top edge, all that will pen- 
etrate. 

About Lamps. 

Soak lamp wicks in vinegar before using. Clean chimney 
with soda or ammonia water. Put salt in bowl or reservoii' 
and it is said that the oil will burn brighter. 

The Odoe of Onions. 

This may be removed from a frying pan by adding a little 
water to vinegar and allowing it to stand a little while. 

Useful Boxes. 

To make nice little spice boxes, take the large-sized baking 
powder boxes, tear off the paper by soaking in water, leaving 
a bright tin box. Kow paint over with well-thinned black 
asphaltum paint, let stand a few minutes until nearly dry; 
then with a match write on the box the contents — "spice," 
"nutmeg," etc. The letters will be marked, as it were, with 
bright letters which will not wash off. Large tin boxes may 
be treated this way and used for bread and cake. 

Filling Lamps. 

Do not fill lamps entirely, as the heat causes oil to expand 
and perhaps overflow. Turn the wick well down below 
burner when not in use. 

To Eemove Old Paint. 

Two parts of ammonia with one of turpentine makes a 
mixture which will soften old paint and varnish so that it 
can be easily scraped off. 



housekeepers and others 215 

Windowings. 

You keep a. scrap book, of course, and you will be glad to 
know how to make sweet paste to fasten your treasures in your 
book. Dissolve in water two square inches of glue and the same 
quantity of alum. Boil with flour just as though you were 
making flour paste and stir until very smooth. When cool 
stir in two teaspoonfuls of oil of lavender. This makes a 
pint of paste that will keep as long as you wish it — a year, 
if necessary. 

Squeaking Shoes. 

When your shoes squeak go to your shoemaker and have 
him put a peg in the middle of the sole, and there will be 
no more loud proclamation. 

Another thing, when you buy a pair of new shoes and 
they hurt you, put water in them and let it remain for a 
minute, then pour it out, and if your shoes burn or hurt 
you after that, you may say that I am wrong. The water 
takes all the natural heat out of the leather and makes the 
shoes comfortable. 

To Fasten Brass Lamp Tops. 

To fasten the yoke on lamps melt alum in an old spoon 
and use as any other solder. 

To Prevent Steel from Eusting. 

A small bag of quicklime kept among steel articles will 
prevent them from rusting. 

To Make Cloth Rainproof. 

Dissolve in a gallon of water one ounce each of sugar of 
lead and powdered alum. Let this stand until clear and 



316 EMERGENCY HELPS FOE 

pour off the liquid. Soak the cloth in this for twenty-four 
hours^ and when dry it will be found quite rainproof. 

A Slice op Eaw Potato. 

Kept conveniently at hand near the kithchen sink and 
rubbed well over the stained spots will remove many stains 
from the hands during the day without resorting to strong 
acids. 

When Buying A Staie Caepet. 

Get an extra yard and fold in a half yard at each end. 
If you do this you will be able to move the carpet up and 
down^ avoiding the worn edges that always come when wear- 
ing it year after year the same way. 

Bread, Cakes or Pies. 
Should never be put away warm, as they will become soggy. 

' G-AS Globes. 

Should never be screwed tightly in their frames as some 
allowances must be made for expansion when heated, or they 
will crack. 

Mold in Ink. 

May be prevented by putting a few drops of carbolic 
acid. This applies to paste, mucilage, etc. 

A Steel Pen. 

Before using a steel (new) pen, strike a match and hold 
the point of the pen in its blaze for two or three minutes. 
This tempers it and insures longer service. 



HOUSEKEEPERS AND OTHERS 217 

To Peepaee Sheepskins for Mats. 

Make a strong lather with hot water, let it stand until 
cold ; then wash the skin in it, carefully squeezing out all the 
dirt from the wool; wash in cold water until all the soap 
is taken out. Dissolve one pound each of salt and alum 
in two gallons of hot water, and put the skin into a tub 
sufficient to cover it. Let it soak for twelve hours, and 
hang it over a pole to drain. When well drained stretch 
it on a board to dry, and stretch several times while dry- 
ing. Before it is quite dry sprinkle on the flesh side one 
ounce each of finely powdered alum and saltpetre, rubbing it 
in well. Try if the wool be firm on the skin; if not, let it 
remain a day or two, then rub again with alum; fold the 
flesh sides together and hang in the shade for two or three 
days, turning them over each day till quite dry. Scrape 
the flesh side with a blunt knife and rub with pumice stone. 

Caee of Patent Leather Shoes. 

They should be well stuffed in the toe with tissue paper 
after taking off, and rubbed with a little vaseline. If cared 
for in this way they will keep without cracking an entire sea- 
son. Vaseline is a splendid preserver of leather, but should 
be used sparingly so it will not leave a greasy appearance. 

How TO Make A Eubber Tree Branch. 

"With the large blade of a pen-knife make a quarter-inch 
incision in the main stem, just above the eye of the leaf — 
preferably where an old leaf has dropped off — and in a few 
weeks the new sprout will appear. By this simple method 
an otherwise badly shaped tree can be made symmetrical and 
beautiful. 



218 EMERGENCY HELPS FOR 

To Make Feens Grow Better. 

Put pieces of raw beef close to the inside of your fern- 
pots (between the pots and the soil), and you will be de- 
lighted at the wonderful growth they will make. Other con- 
ditions for fern growing must, of course, be observed. 



HOUSEKEEPERS AND OTHERS 219 



220 EMERGENCY HELPS FOR 



HOUSEKEEPERS AND OTHERS 221 



232 EMERGENCY HELPS FOR 



HOUSEKEEPERS AND OTHERS 223 



224 EMERGENCY HELPS FOR 



HOUSEKEEPERS AND OTHERS 225 



16 



226 EMEEGENCY HELPS FOE, 



HOUSEKEEPERS AND OTHERS 337 



228 EMERGENCY HELPS FOR 



HOUSEKEEPERS AND OTHERS 239 



230 EMERGENCY HELPS FOR 



HOUSEKEEPERS AND OTHERS 231 



oEc 10 im 



